We learn more fascinating, unique and weird things in this list of 10 crazy facts about Mexico. Mexico is a very beautiful country. It has varied and diverse landscapes, architecture, and culture. You’ll find that a lot of the norms we have today were popularized by this country. There is a lot you can discover in history books. Mexico was also once a colony of Spain. So, you’ll find similarities with Spain’s tradition and culture as you roam around the country. This similarity can also be seen with other former colonies.
Mexico was actually one of the larger countries in the world. Due to previous wars over territory, they had lost a lot of their land to the United States. That’s why you’ll find some Mexican names of states in the US. One example is Los Angeles. You can also trace the countries roots to the ancient and once powerful race of Mayans. You’ll barely see traces of that ancient culture now; a lot of previous traditions, beliefs and cultural markers got mixed up, buried or forgotten over time. It is one of the negative effects of colonization.
Mexico is definitely one place to consider traveling to in the near future. If you have plans or are interested, then The 10 Places to Visit in Mexico that are Beautiful and Safe is the list you should also check out. Let’s get to the interesting stuff:
10. United Mexican States
Believe it or not, the official name for the country of Mexico is the United Mexican States. Before colonization, Mexico City was the capital and the Aztec culture was very profound and widespread. When they were conquered by the Spanish, the colonizers decided to make a mark in Mexico City by building a Spanish city on top of it.
dubassy/Shutterstock.com
9. Chocolate, Corn and Chillies
These three popular food items are used as meals, snacks and ingredients today. All of them originated from Mexico. Chocolate was discovered in the country by the Aztecs and the name was derived from their original language. The same goes for chili and corn. They even have a goddess of chocolate.
8. Volcano Rabbit
Though it sounds something out of a fantasy story, the volcano rabbit is definitely real. It is the second smallest rabbit in the entire world and as the name denotes, lives near volcanoes. They are very rare and hard to find. What makes them distinct is their thick fur and rounded ears as opposed to most rabbits’ features.
Steve Smith/Shutterstock.com
7. National University of Mexico
The National University of Mexico is one of the oldest universities in the world. It was established during Roman times and still stands today. Many professionals and undergraduates pursue studies here and it is one of the most active in Mexico.
6. No Christmas Presents
Unlike most of the world, Mexico follows the original celebration of gift-giving by the Catholics. For most Catholic countries today, they often follow the norm of December 25. Mexico, however, celebrates it on January 6th. This pays homage to the arrival of three kings that first gave gifts to Jesus.
More crazy and intriguing facts as we continue the 10 crazy facts about Mexico list.
5. Ring of Fire
You may or may not be familiar with the ring of fire. This region is a very active area for tectonic movement. With this movement comes a lot of volcanic eruption, hence the name. Mexico is located in this very area that has 75% of the world’s active volcanoes. You can even spot one near Mexico City.
4. Sinking
Mexico City was originally built on top of a lake. Due to this somewhat unstable land they’ve built upon, Mexico is actually slowly sinking every year. If this continues, it could mean damage to structures, buildings, pipelines, civil works, etc. Many scientists are trying to figure out how to resolve this issue.
3. Mexican Flag
The Mexican flag has a lot of Aztec influences. The symbol in the middle, of an eagle eating a snake, was taken from an old Aztec legend. They made this legend their coat of arms. The flag also has three stripes which symbolize different things. Green is for hope, white is for purity and red represents the blood of the country’s heroes.
2. Chihuahua
This famous breed of dog is named after a Mexican state. Though the animal has been created by diversity through breeding, many researchers believe that the dog originated from an ancient tribe from the area. They were used mainly as companions.
1. Bullfighting
Bullfighting is very famous in Mexico. In fact, the country sports the largest bull pit in the world supporting over 40,000 live viewers. Bullfighting was originally from Spain and they introduced it to Mexico during the colonization. The Mexicans loved it, and now you can view these fights every year.
That’s it for the 10 crazy facts about Mexico. Hopefully, this has given you some insight and some tips on what to look for when you visit the country.
