As with many central and south American countries, Mexico features a blend of Indigenous, Spanish, and African influences. Discovering where your family comes from way back in history is an exciting adventure. Families with Mexican roots who study genealogy can find an amazing array of practices, beliefs, festivals, and more to incorporate into their lives today. Through delicious food, lively music, and colorful artistry, traditions are easy to carry through the generations.
Connect your family name or unearthed ethnicity to one of the most vibrant cultures in the world. This research can open doors to understanding more about your family experiences and how you fit into society. Bring the generations together and keep the culture alive for the future.
Key Takeaways on Mexican Genealogy
- Dual last names in Mexico come mostly from the Spanish influence.
- Well-known Mexican food like tacos, tamales, and enchiladas have existed throughout time.
- Festivals come from honoring ancestors on Dia de los Muertos or patron saints throughout the year.
- Upbeat music like mariachi is as colorful as the unique arts and crafts styles in Mexico.
Family Names: Understanding What They Mean
With the heavy Spanish influence in Mexican culture, it makes sense that most people get two last names: one each from father and mother. The first surname is the one that is passed down through the generations. Therefore, a man named Jose Hernandez Garcia would get Hernandez from his father and Garcia from his mother. His children would get Hernandez and their mother’s last name added on at the end. This gives you a lot of information about ancestral lines once you have more than one generation of surnames to explore.
Mexican surnames either come from parentage, such as the traditional ‘son of’ construction (-ez), from Spain directly, indigenous languages, or from locations and occupations. Alvarez means ‘son of Alvaro,’ Castillo indicates living near a castle, and Herrera comes from the word for blacksmithing.
Delicious Flavors and Food With History
Foods commonly grown in Central America feature heavily in Mexican cooking. These include corn, beans, tomatoes, squash, and chili peppers. When the Spanish arrived there long ago, they brought wheat, rice, and cows, which made beef and dairy products popular. Many of the restaurant foods people in the US consider Mexican are not authentic. Your ancestors may have eaten tacos and tamales, but they would’ve tasted a bit different than those you find at a take-out restaurant.
Northern Mexico offers flour tortillas and beef dishes. Western mountainous areas offer birria, spicy meat with tomato sauces. In Baja and other Pacific coastal regions, expect more seafood like fish tostados. Near the Yucatan beaches, tropical fruits like pineapple and coconut feature in recipes. Mole, a spicy and savory sauce with chocolate, is a classic used on many types of meat.
Mexican Celebrations Keep Tradition Alive
Many holidays and festivals focus on the Roman Catholic church calendar with heavy importance on specific saints’ days. Our Lady of Guadalupe in December celebrates the patron saint of the whole country. Some blend indigenous beliefs with them, such as the well-known Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, that honors past ancestors. This one is particularly appreciated by genealogists.
Harvest festivals exist in every country if you look back far enough, and Mexico is no different. Patriotic celebrations focused on the 1910 revolution and independence from Spain vie for prominence with Holy Week before Easter and Carnival before Lent.
The Art, Crafts, and Music Add Color to Life
While Catholic and specifically saint-focused imagery is popular in Mexico, there are also strong folk art traditions to enjoy during your research. The forms they take come from commonly found materials in the area. This includes Puebla pottery made of clay, Taxco region silverwork, and Oaxaca textiles made from wool, silk, and even agave fibers. No matter the design or style, expect bright colors and symbolic motifs.
Lively forms of music like mariachi, with its guitars and brass instruments, banda music, with heavy influence from Germanic immigrants, and the son category with violins and high-pitched voices, keep your toes tapping. Songs range from love ballads to celebration music, storytelling themes to ritualistic chants. Discovering the types played, sung, and enjoyed by your ancestors based on their location and heritage can introduce you to some amazing sounds.
Frequently Asked Questions on Mexican Genealogy
How are surnames passed down through the generations in Mexico?
A child receives their first from their father and the final name from their mother. People therefore have two last names. In genealogical research, this helps clearly establish paternal lines.
How did Spanish colonization affect Mexican culture?
Much of what we know and accept as Mexican culture today is heavily influenced by Spain. This includes the obvious presence of catholic beliefs, art, holidays, and more. They also introduced foods like beef and wheat, which changed traditional foods.
What are some of the most traditional ingredients in food from this country?
Corn, beans, squash, chili peppers, and tropical fruit are some of the most common vegetable foods from old Mexico. Wheat for tortillas came with the Spanish, as did beef and dairy products. Chicken and seafood also feature heavily depending on the location and natural resources nearby.
What is the most well-known celebration and how does it help genealogists?
Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is a celebration of ancestry itself. People honor their family members who have passed on by making altars, sharing stories, and even visiting gravesites. For a person researching heritage and family trees, this provides a great opportunity to hear stories and learn more about the past.
Where can I find the best records for Mexican heritage and history?
MyHeritage offers searchable records to start your genealogy research and dive deeper into who you are and where you came from. After the Spanish came, church archives, birth, marriage, and death certificates were common. Before that, paperwork for indigenous folk was quite rare. The National Archives of Mexico can help with your search, too.
The post Being Mexican: Traditions and Exploring Your Genealogy appeared first on MyHeritage Blog.
Source: My Heritage
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