This ppt is applied for the assignment of Cross Cultural Understanding Subject.. I hope everyone can learn a lot about Mexico and its culture briefly from my ppt

1. CULTURE RESEARCH

2. • Mexico is bordered by the
United States to the north
and Belize and Guatemala to
the southeast.
• Mexico is about one-fifth the
size of the United States.
• The word "Mexico" is derived
from Mexica (pronounced
"Me-shee-ka"), the name for
the indigenous group that
settled in central Mexico in
the early 14th century and is
best known as the Aztecs.

3. Language
Spanish as official language.
Mexican-Spanish as daily language.
Indian language (Nahuatl) as origin language.
Icon
Mexican national culture is theVirgin of
Guadalupe, which illustrates the pervasive
influence of Roman Catholicism in the national
culture

5. Meeting and Greeting
• Shake hands or give a slight bow when
introduced.
• Bow when greeting a Mexican woman.
Shake hands only if she extends her hand first.
Body Language
• Mexicans generally stand close together when
conversing. Don't show signs of discomfort, which
would be considered rude by your Mexican
counterpart.
• Mexicans often "hold" a gesture (a handshake, a
squeeze of the arm, a hug) longer than Americans
and Canadians do.
• Don't stand with your hands on your hips; this
signifies anger. It is considered rude to stand
around with your hands in your pockets.

6. Corporate Culture
• Punctuality is expected of foreign business people. Your
Mexican counterpart may be late or keep you waiting. Thirty
minutes past the scheduled meeting time is considered
punctual by Mexicans.
• Spanish is the language of business. You may need to hire an
interpreter (preferably a native speaker who understands the
language as it is spoken in Mexico).
• Meet with top executives first. Top-level Mexican executives
may not attend subsequent meetings, which often take place
with middle-level management and technical people. Don't
feel insulted; this shows that discussions are proceeding
positively.
• Negotiations move slowly. Be patient. For Mexicans, the
building of a personal relationship comes before the building
of a professional one.

7. Corporate Culture
• Deal-making almost never occurs over the phone (and
rarely by letter). Mexicans prefer to do business in
person.
• Your local contact person or representative is very
important and should be chosen very carefully. A low-
level representative will be taken as an affront by
status-conscious Mexicans, who will assume that you
are not really serious.
• Be persistent! Don't give up if you don't receive a
response to your phone calls or letters right away or if
your meetings are continually postponed or canceled.
If you give up, your Mexican counter parts might
assume that you weren't serious in the first place.

8. • Giving gift is not always necessity doing
business in Mexico, but gifts are much
appreciated.
• Flowers should always be given when
visiting a Mexican home. It's OK to have
them sent beforehand, or to bring them
with you. If you have them sent, make
sure that they arrive before you do.

9. Helpful Hints
• Any attempt to speak Spanish is appreciated by your Mexican
counterparts and is seen as a gesture of goodwill.
Demonstrating knowledge and appreciation of Mexican
culture wins friends.
• Mexicans are very proud of their independence and have a
very strong sense of national identity and pride. Never
compare the way things are done in Mexico with the way
they are done in the United States.
• Little things count. Not saying good-bye, for example, may
well offend and adversely affect your relationship to a much
greater extent than it would in the United States.

10. • Women should prepare for some difficulty when doing business in
Mexico. Because some Mexican businessmen may not have had
many dealings with women in positions of authority, you should
demonstrate your competence, skill and authority.
• Mexican men, business colleagues included, will pay foreign
businesswomen many compliments and may even be flirtatious.
• Foreign businesswomen should not invite Mexican businessmen to
dinner unless their spouses also come along. If invited out to dinner
or to socialize by a male Mexican colleague, a businesswoman
should make it clear that no opportunity for romance exists.
• Appearances are important.

11. The heart of most Mexican dishes:
corn, hot peppers (chili), and beans.
Corn is the most important ingredient.
It is consumed in all possible forms:
1. As a cooked or roasted corncob called elote
2. As a cooked grain of corn
3. As porridge called atole
4. As wrapped and steamed dough with filling called tamal
5. As a tortilla, a thin, round "pancake."
TASTE & SMELL

12. Tequila, which is made from agave
cactus that is well suited to the
climate of central Mexico.
Soda is a very popular drink in
Mexico, as the country has a well-
developed beverage industry
TASTE & SMELL

13. El desayuno (Breakfast)
• Between 7:00am and 10:00am
• Breakfast in Mexico can range from a simple cup of
coffee to a huge spread featuring “huevos rancheros”
(corn tortillas filled with fried eggs and a sauce of
chili, tomato & onion).
• Popular breakfast foods include sweet breads,
tropical fruits, toast, granola and yogurt.
La comida (Lunch)
• Between 1:30pm and 4:00pm
• In Mexico, lunch is the main meal of the day- expect
to eat a lot!
• La comida typically consists of an appetizer, a soup or
salad and the main course: seafood, meat or poulty,
rice and/ or beans and of course some hot tortillas.
• Get ready to chat before, during and after eating, as
lunch tends to be a leisurely meal
La Cena (Dinner)
• Between 8:00pm and 9:00pm.
• Eaten in the evening, la cena is the lighter meal of the
day in Mexico, often consisting of soup or tacos.

14. • Giving tips its usual in Mexican restaurant
• Mexicans eat small portions during dinner
time
• Lunch is the biggest meal in the Mexican
culture

15. • One of Mexico’s most important holidays, “El
Día de los Muertos” (Day of the Dead), places
a huge emphasis on food. Families bake or buy
special sweet bread known as “pan de
muertos,” or bread of the dead.
• Sugar skull, typical of those eaten on El Dia de
los Muertos

16. • Woman’s wardrobes :
1. Skirts
2. Sleeveless tunics called huipils
3. Capes known as quechquémitls
4. Shawls called rebozos.
One distinguishing article of traditional men’s
clothing is a large blanket cape called a
sarape. Boots are also a wardrobe staple.

17. • Some traditional clothing, now typically worn for
celebrations and special occasions
• Sombreros and The Charro suits worn by
Mariachi bands that are popular costumes
during Carnival.

18. • The family is at the centre of the social structure.
• Outside of the major cosmopolitan cities, families are still
generally large.
• The extended family is as important as the nuclear family
since it provides a sense of stability.
• Mexicans consider it their duty and responsibility to help
family members. For example, the will help find
employment or finance a house or other large purchase.
• Most Mexican families are extremely traditional, with the
father as the head, the authority figure and the decision-
maker.
• Mothers are greatly revered, but their role may be seen as
secondary to that of their husband.

20. • Machismo literally means 'masculinity'.
• There are different outward behaviours to
display machismo.
• For example, making remarks to women is a
stereotypical sign of machismo and should not
be seen as harassment.
• Mexican males generally believe that nothing
must be allowed to tarnish their image as a
man.

21. • Mexico introduced chocolate, corn, and chilies
to the world
• Mexican children do not receive presents on
Christmas Day. They receive gifts on January 6,
the day on which Mexicans celebrate the
arrival of the Three Wise Men.
• Mexico is located in the “Ring of Fire,” one of
the earth’s most violent earthquake and
volcano zones.
• The Chihuahua is the world’s smallest dog and
is named for a Mexican state
FACTS

22. • Modern Mexicans are a unique blend
of many ancient civilizations, including
the Olmec, Zapotec, Toltec, Maya,
Aztec, Inca, African, French, and
Spanish.
• This country has 20 annual
celebrations.
• The country of Telenovela like Amigos X
Siempre, Rosalinda, Marimar, etc.

23. CELEBERATION &
FESTIVAL in MEXICO

24. • Carnivals of Mexico Los Carnavales de Mexico
The festive tradition arrived to our country toward the end of the
19th century; hence, the beginning of the carnivals. And it was
precisely in the port of Veracruz, a land known for crazy parties,
where the Veracruzanos celebrated
• Celebrating the Day of the Dead
Since pre Columbian times, El Día de los Muertos, the Day of the
Dead has been celebrated in Mexico, as in other Latin countries. It
is the day in which the living remember their departed relatives.
• Christmas in Mexico
What a wonderful season December is in Mexico: Piñatas,
Pastorelas, Posadas. The first of nine posadas is held on
December 16. In Mexico City they go to the Alameda Park, where
dozens of photographers and vendors gather to offer their goods.

25. • Common Misconceptions About the Day of the Dead
It is not the Mexican version of Halloween. Mexicans
have celebrated the Day of the Dead since the year 1800
B.C.
• Day of the Dead Offering in English
The sound of the rain, the smell of wet earth, the heat
of fire, the color of the sky glowing in the afternoon and
the taste of hot coffee: all sensory experiences . As we
go through our life on earth.
• December 12 Fiesta of Our Lady of Guadalupe
On the day before the great celebration, thousands and
thousands of people start to arrive. Many of them make
the trip from their place of origin by bicycle.

26. • La Ofrenda
Ofendas are an essential part of the Day of the Dead
celebrations. The word ofrenda means offering in
Spanish. Food is specially prepared for the souls.
• May 3: Day of the Holy Cross
Holy Cross Day is celebrated everywhere in Mexico on
May 3. Curiously, it has become the feast day of masons.
Here's the story why?
Faithful Catholic Spaniards used to adorn a cross with
flowers on this day and place it on top of their houses.
Later, the Spanish missionaries brought this tradition to
our country.

27. • http://www.fcschools.net/ESL/lessons/mexicouni
t/Culture.htm
• http://www.livescience.com/38647-mexican-
culture.html
• http://www.infoplease.com/country/mexico.html
• http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/Mexicoweb/f
actfile/Unique-facts-Mexico16.htm
• http://www.planeta.com/ecotravel/mexico/mexd
ead.html
• http://www.inside-
mexico.com/culturetraditions/traditions.htm

28. GRACIAS!