Papel picado is a traditional folk art from Mexico that involves cutting out intricate patterns on colorful tissue paper. The tissue paper is then glued to a string in a line to form banners which are used as decorations for important festivities throughout the year.
Artisans may study for years to …

A palapa is a thatched-roof, open-sided structure (see palapa photo). The material to cover the roof of a palapa typically consists of dried and woven palm-tree leaves. A palapa is sometimes referred to as a grass or tiki hut.
The most common place to see a palapa is in the tropics, …

From the Mayan dzonot, meaning “well.”
A cenote is a deep water-filled sinkhole in limestone that is created when the roof of an underground cavern collapses. This creates a natural pool which is then filled by rain and underground rivers.
Some cenotes are vertical, water-filled shafts, while others are caves that contain …

Cempasuchitl, or flor de muerto are marigold flowers, and they figure prominently in Day of the Dead celebrations. The word comes from the Nahuatl (the language spoken by the Aztecs) and means twenty-flower, referring to the many petals of the flower. Cempoa, meaning “twenty” and xochitl, “flower.”
Pronunciation: sem-pa-soo-cheel

A thick drink similar to an American hot cereal. It is made with masa and sometimes topped with fruit.
Ingredients:
1/3 cup masa harina blended with 1/4 cup warm water in blender
3 cups water
5 tablespoons brown sugar or piloncillo
1 pinch of salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon or 1 cinnamon stick
2 teaspoons vanilla or one …

Posadas are an important part of Mexican Christmas celebrations. The word posada means “inn” or “shelter” in Spanish, and these celebrations recreate Mary and Joseph’s search for a place to stay in Bethlehem. Posadas are held on each of the nine nights leading up to Christmas, from December 16 to …

What is a piñata?:
A piñata is a figure, usually made from a clay pot covered with paper mache and decorated in bright colors, with candy and fruit inside. At parties piñatas are suspended from a rope and children, usually blind-folded, take turns hitting it with a stick until it breaks …

Semana Santa, or Holy Week, is the week leading up to Easter. This is the most important holiday in the church calendar because it is the celebration of the resurrection of Christ. Since Mexico is predominantly a Catholic country (over 90% of Mexicans practice Catholicism to some extent), Holy Week …

Semana is a Spanish word that means “week.”
These are the days of the week in Spanish:
Los días de la semana:
Lunes – Monday
Martes – Tuesday
Miercoles – Wednesday
Jueves – Thursday
Viernes – Friday
Sábado – Saturday
Domingo – Sunday
Semana Santa
Semana Santa is “Holy Week.” In Spanish-speaking countries, the Easter holiday is referred to as Semana …

“Colectivo” can refer to any type of shared public transportation in Mexico. The term is generally used to designate a shared taxi service that runs a set route and picks up passengers who may flag down the taxi at any point along the route.
The form of transportation can vary greatly. …