Student Articles

Whilst Spanish is the dominant language spoken in Mexico, there are in fact an additional 68 Amerindian languages that are considered national languages, the most widely spoken of which is Nahuatl.  The Nahtuatl language is spoken by almost 1.5 million people in Mexico, and comprises of a group of closely related Aztec languages and dialects known as the Nahuan, some of which are mutually unintelligible.  

The Mexican grey wolf is the smallest of the grey wolf species. They tend to grow no longer than 150cm long and 80cm high making them a fair bit smaller than many other wolves.

Mexico is one of the world´s most popular holiday destinations and it´s easy to see why. As well as having a great climate, beautiful beaches and a vast range of hotel complexes, it also boasts many cultural, sporting and educational activities for all ages. Whether it´s with rest of the family or in their own free time, teenagers will find an abundance of exciting activities in Mexico.

Mexico is famous for its tequila! This spirit is drunk throughout the world and there are many different types and brands of tequila. It is made from a plant, the blue agave, which grows in the north of Mexico. However the drink actually gets its name from the city of Tequila as traditionally it was around this city that most of the drink was made.

Although Mexican clothes nowadays do not differ much from what we wear here in Europe their traditional dress was quite different. Essentially their clothes were designed to keep the Mexican people cool in the hot climes.

The Mexican flag is an object of great national pride within Mexico. It stands grandly in the central Zocalo square in Mexico City and even has an annual celebration dedicated to it, the Flag Day of Mexico, Dia de Bandera! This happens every year on February 24^th and is the Mexican national holiday.

The Mexican flag consists of three vertical stripes which are red, white and green. On the central white stripe lies the national crest; an eagle sat upon a cactus. The Mexican flag was officially created in 1821 and whilst the flag has changed moderately over time the new Mexican flag is nearly exactly the same as that which was created almost 200 years ago.

Interestingly whilst people think that the Mexican flag is simply the Italian tricolour with the Mexican national crest placed upon it, the Mexican flag was actually created before the Italian flag. What´s more is that the Mexican flag uses darker shades of green and red and also different dimensions. Also the meaning of the flag makes it very different to the tricolour.

Mexican Flag History

The Mexican flag symbols have a fascinating story behind them. The eagle on the Mexican flag alludes to Mexican culture and the Mexicans Aztec past. Legend has it that the Aztec population were told by one of their Gods, Huitzilopochtli, that they should look on a lake for an Eagle sat upon a cactus and holding a snake in its talon. When they saw this they were to build their Empire around this point. The Aztec people spotted this eagle in what is now Mexico City. Thus the central emblem is a reminder for the Mexican people of their Aztec roots.

The Mexican flag colors also have interesting origins. At the beginning of the 19^th century when Mexico was fighting for independence from Spain, the Army of the Three Guarantees used red, white and green in their flag, after independence from Spain had been won. Until then most flags had used red, white and blue. Thus both the colours used in the flag and the symbols represent important parts of Mexico´s history.

The history of the Mexican flag following its creation in 1821 is relatively straightforward. The dimensions of the flag have changed only slightly as have the Mexican flag images. For example the flag which was used during the Second Mexican Empire actually contained 5 eagles, with one in each corner of the flag as well as the central one in the national crest. The current version of the Mexican flag was adopted in 1968. It contains the national crest on both the front and back of the flag.

The Mexican flag is very important within Mexico. This is shown by the fact that there is a day which celebrates the flag! Each year the Mexican people pledge allegiance to the flag and their country. What´s more is that the flag is protected under Mexican law and special permits are needed to use its image! The reason that the flag has such importance is because the strip of fabric represents both the people´s freedom from Spain and their Aztec past.

Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma is a Mexican beer producer that has been in business for over 120 years. In first began on the 8^th November 1890, when Don Isaac Garza and Don José Calderón founded the Hielo y Cerveza Cuauhtémoc factory in Monterrey. Their first beer, Carta Blanca, which is still popular today, became well known across the country and their first beer barrel, produced in 1893 won first prize in the Chicago and Paris fairs. This put Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma on the map, showing their potential to become an international brand of beer.

Mexico has thousands of kilometres of coastline, meaning that there are many great beaches for surfing, whether you are a beginner or expert. The Pacific coast is really the best area for surfing in Mexico and boasts some of the world´s most famous surfing locations, where annual competitions are held. Some of the advantages of surfing in Mexico include having a good climate all year round, a variety of wave sizes and relatively uncrowded beaches, due to the abundance of space available. However it is essential to do research before planning a surfing vacation in Mexico, as there are also things that you need to beware of. Crime rates are high in some of the surfing areas, so it is generally best to surf in groups, plus there are dangerously big waves and sharks to lookout for!

Mexico is a diverse country that offers beautiful natural sites, ancient historic remains and many modern attractions too. Many of its towns and cities are well known tourist destinations across the world.

The Mexican Revolution took place between 1910 and 1920 and is one of the country´s most important historical events. One hundred years earlier the Mexico had fought for independence from the strict rule of the Spaniards, and won, but this did not mean they were a free nation. Mexico was now under the dictatorship of President Porfirio Diaz. He had done a lot for the country, but there were many problems with the way he ran it. The people had no freedom to express their opinions and whilst the few rich people were very rich, the poor were very poor.