Culture

  • Mexican Superstitions

    Hours

    Are you superstitious? If you’ve ever gone out to shew away an owl or flipped a saint figure up-side-down, you just might be Mexican. In this episode, you’ll learn about 10 different popular superstitions in Mexico.

  • Shamanism in Mexico

    Hours

    Shamanism isn’t just lore from thousands of years ago–it’s still practiced today in Mexico and in many other countries throughout the world. In this episode, we talk about four of the most prominent modern shamans from Mexico, what they were known for, and our thoughts on the custom.

  • Culture Shocks in the Streets of Mexico

    Hours

    In this episode, we take a look at some of the culture shocks of experiencing Mexico as a foreigner when it comes to observing life from the streets. Learn about topes, pedestrian right of way, J-walking, and much more.

  • Mexican Markets and Tianguis

    Hours

    Maybe you don’t think of local markets as places full of culture and history, but Jim and May are here to change your mind.

    This week, they chat about the definitions and differences between Mexican “mercados” and “tianguis,” which basically are two common types of markets.

  • The Saint of Narcos

    Hours

    This week Jim and May cover an interesting topic, Jesús Malverde, better known as a saint of the narcos, or drug traffickers in Mexico. Check out the episode to learn more about Malverde and the story of his supposed assassination.

  • Cinco de Mayo

    Hours

    Cinco de Mayo is upon us yet again. Do you have plans with your friends to celebrate at your favorite Mexican restaurant with mountains of tacos? Or possibly at home with lots of margaritas and maybe a sombrero or two?

    Jim and May give us the run-down on the history behind Cinco de Mayo. If you think it’s all about Mexican Independence Day, you’d be wrong, so check out the episode to find out more!

  • Saint Valentine

    Hours

    We started off this week with Valentine’s Day, or “El Día del Amor y la Amistad” in Mexico. Of course, most of us are familiar with celebrating love on this day with gifts or romantic gestures, but how did Valentine’s day come to be?

    Jim and May run down the list of stories surrounding the origin of Valentine’s Day.

  • Tamales: Their Origin and Importance

    Hours

    Out of the foods that we know and cherish today, how many do we actually know the origins of?

    Take tamales for example – they are so important to Latin American gastronomy, especially in Mexico. But where did they come from? When were they first introduced to society?

  • Three Kings’ Day

    Hours

    January 6th pretty much wraps up the holiday season in most Spanish speaking countries with Día de Reyes, or Three Kings’ Day.

    It’s a Catholic holiday that celebrates the recognition of baby Jesus as Christ by the Three Wise Men

  • New Year’s Resolutions

    Hours

    People bring in the new year differently all over the world, but the one thing that seems pretty consistent is making New Year’s resolutions.

    Learn all about not just various New Year’s traditions, but also tips and tricks on keeping those new habits going strong after the new year.