National Traditions in Mexico: Habits, Mentality, and the Way of Living
Mexico is a country of noisy sparkling fun that permeates all the colorful Mexican culture. Often right on the city streets, you can meet "mariachis" - groups of musicians wearing large sombreros, black trousers, and high-heeled boots and playing guitars and trumpets. They are also indispensable participants of absolutely all holidays and public festivities. Mexicans are very fond of cockfights, bullfights, horse racing - in a word, everything that stirs the blood. Tips are usually given for almost any service - typically 10%. Most of the waiters and guides are men. In Mexico, bathrooms are usually very clean but paid - at least 5 pesos.
Mexicans usually eat three times a day, while breakfast is the most hearty meal. They love spicy and sweet food, can eat cucumbers with fruits and a lot of fast food. Being at least half an hour late for a formal or informal meeting is the norm in Mexico. Latecomers rarely consider it their duty to warn others about the delay. Across the country, one can often see locals swimming in their clothes. In Mexico, it is not customary to keep one's emotions in check; men and women in love walk through the streets holding each other's hands, kissing and hugging.
Gender roles in Mexico are very clear. Since childhood, women are taught to be soft and docile, and men - to dominate. Men flirt by shouting and whistling to women they like. But if a man seriously likes a woman, he treats her with respect, gives flowers, pays for dinner. Thus, a Mexican woman going on a date with a foreigner can be insulted by the proposal to split the bill in half. Although in recent years young people have become much more progressive in terms of gender roles, traditions are still strong.
Mexicans cannot say no. This may cause some problems: for example, if you ask a local resident who does not know the address, he'll try to invent the route instead of saying that he does not know the right way. Therefore, it is better to ask the way from a few Mexicans you meet. Another example: A Mexican is unlikely to say that he cannot be present at the event when his friends invite him; instead, he promises to be there in order not to upset his friends. There is another aspect: the one invited to a party can come with a big company of friends without warning about it.
Mexicans consider red-haired people to be a kind of talismans that attract good luck, so a kind of competition is common here: the one who pinches one's friend first at the sight of a red man will be lucky. Mexicans like to praise their country and everything related to it in front of foreigners and do not tolerate criticism. Mexicans are collectivists rather than individualists. Family comes first for every Mexican, birthdays are celebrated only in a large family circle. In general, family members are the best friends of any Mexican, as well as family members of friends. When somebody's relative dies, all friends consider it their duty to visit and support the mourner. And on birthdays, heroes of the day always get pie in the face.
Another interesting tradition is the formality of greeting and saying goodbye to friends. Mexicans will hug and shake hand with every good friend met, repeating the same at parting. The same tradition applies to relatives. Women usually shake hands when they meet, while good friends kiss each other on one cheek. Familiar men and women can hug each other at the meeting. Most Mexicans are constantly holding their phones. Even dining with friends they do not turn off the sound and put the phone on the table to be ready to answer every message or call.
During the conversation, Mexicans usually stand close to interlocutors. One should not move away - it is considered rude and shows unwillingness to communicate. Interlocutors of the opposite sex touch each other slightly during a conversation. In cities, it is considered normal to look at the people's eyes, but in rural areas, it may seem a sign of disrespect. If a child is looking into the parent's eyes while being scolded, this is regarded as disrespect and disobedience.
Source: Orange Smile