Mexican Immigrants
One contribution to our society is the notion of the American cowboy and the practice of a ranching as a way to earn a living. The end of the U.S. Mexican War in 1848 marked the most significant adoption of ranching culture to the non-Hispanic U.S.A. Anglo Texans copied everything Mexican which had to do with ranching, even down to the styles of the bandidos and desperados. The old Spanish/Mexican Corriente cattle were renamed Texas Longhorns, New Mexico mules were transported to Saint Louis and renamed the Missouri Mule, and the Spanish/Muslim horses bred for rugged ranching life and refined by the Mexican Vaqueros were renamed American Cow Ponies. The cowboy saddle we think of today as purely American came from the Mexican vaquero. The saddle horn was an innovation invented through necessity by creative Spanish and Mexican vaqueros. Even the word vaquero was taken by the American cowboy and became the American word “buckaroo.”
Reasons for Immigration
Millions of people in the United States today identify themselves as Mexican immigrants or Mexican Americans. They are among the oldest and newest inhabitants of the nation. Some Mexicans were already living in the Southern and Western regions of the North American continent centuries before the United States existed. Many more Mexicans came to the country during the 20th century, and Mexican immigrants continue to arrive today.
With the exception of those of Mexican decent already living in the American west when those territories became part of the United States, most Mexicans immigrated to America for only one reason, to make a better life for themselves and their families. Because Mexico and the United States share a border, many Mexican immigrants journey back and forth from their homeland to the United States to work and bring money back to their families. Many also stay in the United States permanently. Although Mexican immigrants work in many occupations, one that has attracted many is the farming industry. Many Mexican immigrants work as migrant farm workers, which allows them to earn money and return to Mexico after the growing season.
Mexican Customs and Practices
In the United States Mexican-Americans comprise 60 percent of the Hispanic/Latino population. Mexicans live predominantly in California, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. The difference between Mexican, Puerto Rican, and other Latin American countries includes 500 years of separate history, as well as entirely different native populations that were present when the Spaniards arrived. Thus, the Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Latin American cultures each have a completely different concept of what foods are appropriate and what these foods are called.
The family unit is the single most important social unit in the life of Hispanics. Family responsibilities come before all other responsibilities. The father is the leader of the family, and the mother runs the household, shops, and prepares the food. The majority of Mexicans are Roman Catholic.
Several Mexican holidays are beginning to gain popularity in the United States. One of these is Cinco De Mayo. This is the celebration of the Mexican military victory over the French in 1862. The American Union army played an important roll in this military victory and as a result many Americans especially those living near the Mexican border celebrate this holiday. Other Mexican holidays celebrated in the United States are usually those originating from the Catholic Church such as All Saints Day.
Foods and other contributions to American Society
Some of the foods that come to us from Mexican Immigrants are tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, nachos, refried beans, quesadillas, burritos, salsa, and flan. These are just a few that you may be aware of, there are many more.
