A Few Mexican Food Traditions You Might Want To Try At Home

Every nation has its own traditions, especially when it comes to food. Mexico is no different, having many unique Mexican food traditions. Mexican food customs include certain dishes, which are served on holidays and other special occasions, with some of these dishes being well known as classic Mexican recipes all over the world.

Mexican Holidays And Recipes

One of the best known of Mexico’s unique holidays is Cinco de Mayo. Falling on the fifth of May each year (the name simply means May 5th in Spanish), Cinco de Mayo is often mistakenly thought to be Mexico’s Independence Day, a common misconception in the United States. In fact, the holiday commemorates Mexico’s victory over the French army at Puebla in’62.

Outside of the state of Puebla, the holiday is a minor one – though there are some special Cinco de Mayo dishes, which are served on this day, especially in Puebla. This state is the region of Mexico where mole, an important ingredient in many traditional Mexican recipes was developed; and this is a popular sauce nationwide.

One traditional Cinco de Mayo recipe often made in Puebla for this holiday is turkey cooked in a mole sauce. This would be mole poblano in particular (the name means “Puebla-style mole”), a rich, nutty and spicy sauce which is worth every bit of the considerable time and effort needed to make it. Turkey is a popular food in Puebla and in fact, in much of the country. Turkey shows up not only here, but also in many Mexican recipes, even some of Mexico’s other special holiday dishes.

Christmas And Epiphany Food Traditions

Mexico is a predominantly Catholic country, which celebrates Christmas (of course) as well as the feast days of many saints and other religious holidays. No country celebrates like Mexico, especially when it comes to holiday food! Christmas Mexican food traditions include the traditional Christmas morning “posada,” a sort of morning dinner party.

At this holiday meal, the menu may include codfish, turkey soup, mashed potatoes with cranberry/chili relish and punch, especially with marshmallows. Adding to the festivity of the occasion is often a piata, something which Mexican children eagerly anticipate about their family’s posada.

In Mexico, the feast of Epiphany is also celebrated with special food and drink. The Spanish-style ring shaped Epiphany cake was introduced to Mexico and has become a Mexican food tradition of its own. The addition of hot chocolate, a drink which is a new world innovation is a Mexican addition to this holiday meal.

Of course, no discussion of Mexican food traditions and Mexican food history would be complete without a mention of Dia de los Muertos, the Mexican “day of the dead.” This is the Mexican celebration of All Saints Day on November first and there are special dishes eaten such as candied pumpkin, pan de muerto – bread which is baked, glazed, and decorated with colored sugar. Smaller pieces of dough are prepared in the shape of bones and skulls to decorate these holiday loaves.

The most famous food tradition connected with Dia de los Muertos is the making of the colorful, skull shaped candies called sugar skulls. These are made from sugar which is pressed into molds and decorated, sometimes very elaborately – many of these candies are works of art which are simply to wonderful to eat!

The food traditions of every nation reflect their unique culture, something which Mexican food traditions certainly do. The country’s amalgam of new world and old world ingredients, recipes and cooking methods have resulted in a culture – and a set of traditional foods which are an integral part of Mexican life and culture.

If you are a lover of fish and seafood, Mexican ceviche will definitely please you. This wonderful fishy dish is “cooked” with lemon or lime juice rather than with heat. You can enjoy ceviche as an appetizer, part of a salad recipe or as a main course and the recipe is simple to follow.