By Robin Thornley
With its colorful customs and costumes, markets packed with toys and the rich biodiversity of nature,
Mexico offers a constantly changing menu of kid-friendly fun. The added bonus is many of the traditions and local customs are easy lessons in Mexican history and culture. Even an ordinary event--like eating a Popsicle--can be an eye-opening experience, while a special occasion--a fiesta with a spectacular fireworks display--can create unique memories for the whole family.
Chocolate
Hot chocolate is a family favorite on chilly nights, but it has its roots in ancient Mexico when "xocoatl" (so-koh-attel) was a bitter drink made from ground cocoa, spices and snow, served to Mexico's rich citizens. Today, fist-sized beans from the cacao tree are dried in the front yards of homes in southeastern Mexico, then ground into powder--modern Mexicans add sugar, vanilla and cinnamon, and then whip the mixture into milk for a tasty drink.
Fiery Castles
Mexicans love fireworks, and even the smallest village has a fiery display during the many fiestas marking the calendar. Large "castillos"--they look like castle towers but are made from bamboo--are decorated with firework wheels that spin when a fuse is lit. Firework masters also build large bottle rockets and launch "bombas"--aerial fireworks--into the night sky.
Cool Snacks
A favorite afternoon snack in Mexico is a "paleta"--a Popsicle--which comes in a wide variety of fruit flavors and often is sold by vendors operating a paleteria, a bicycle with a small freezer attached that can be pedaled to the beach or the plaza. Mexicans also love "helados"--ice cream that comes in dozens of flavors, many of them made from tropical fruit and some even made from odd ingredients like chiles!
Good Guys/Bad Guys
"Lucha Libre" is Mexico's version of professional wrestling, and the stars wear masks to hide their identity--some never appear in public even outside the ring without their masks. Fans like to buy "lucha libre" masks in the market where vendors can tell you whether a mask belongs to a "technico" (good guy) or a "rudo" (bad guy).
Birds and Butterflies
Millions of birds and butterflies spend the winter in Mexico, flying south from Canada and the United States in the fall. Monarch butterflies head south to the canyons of Central Mexico's volcanic mountains, their colorful wings turning every surface black and orange as they rest in the mountain trees. You can follow their journey on monarchwatch.org.
Made in the Shade
The wide-brimmed hats worn by "vaqueros"--Mexican cowboys--were designed to shade the riders from the hot sun. Like many Spanish words, the name of the hat contains a clue to its function, hence, a "sombrero" is designed to give the wearer some "sombra"--shade. And a vaquero? He herds "vacas"--cows.
Resources
About the Author:
Robin Thornley has been a successful writer for more than 25 years, penning articles for national magazines, newspapers and websites. She specializes in a variety of topics, including business, politics, lifestyle trends, travel and cuisine. She also is the author of two guidebooks.
