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1000 BCE
Origin of Día de Los Muertos
Día de Los Muertos began as an aztec tradition roughly 3000 years ago. The Aztecs used skulls to honor the dead, and made offerings of food. When the Spanish conquered the Aztecs in the 16th century, Catholic influence crept in. The holiday, which used to be celebrated in the summer, was moved to the 1st and 2nd of November to commemorate All Saints and All Souls day. Ofrendas (or offerings) of food are still used during the celebration today and demonstrate remembrance of Aztec tradition. -
1000 BCE
Introduction
This timeline project is a diachronic analysis of Food Rituals in Mexican Celebration and its Relation to Memory. It answers the question: “How do dishes served at Mexican celebrations relate to Mexican culture and the collective memory of Mexican tradition?" Through a combination of primary and secondary sources this project will attempt to enlighten viewers on the cultural significance of Mexican dishes. Mexican food is clearly intertwined with a strong sense of historical remembrance. -
Libro de Cocina
The Libro de Cocina, published in 1631, is one of the first known Mexican cookbooks. It is believed to have been written in Mexico City, arguably the number one hub for Mexican tradition and celebration. It was written in 1631, about 100 years after the Spanish arrival in Mexico, which is important because this book highlights Spanish influence on Mexican food. For example, there were recipes that included wheat flour, olive oil, and meats like pork and lamb that were not native to the Americas. -
Origin of Dia De Los Reyes
Dia de Los Reyes, or day of the kings, originated in Spain in the 1800's. It is now widespread throughout most of Latin America, including Mexico. It is celebrated on January 6th, and it celebrates the nativity of Jesus and the three kings (or wise men) that came to visit him. On Dia de Los Reyes, cakes are prepared in ring shapes. There is a toy baby hidden inside one or more of the slices, and whoever finds the baby is said to be lucky. This holiday is another example of Spanish influence. -
Origin of Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo celebrates the Mexican victory at the battle of Puebla. On May 5th, 1862, the largely outnumbered Mexican defeated the French in a victory that proved to be instrumental to Mexican success in their war for independence. A common misconception is that Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexican Independence Day, which it does not. The holiday is also largely a celebration held in the United States. The plethora of Mexican immigrants living in the US have managed to keep the traditions alive. -
How memory can be seen in the holidays
Dia de Los Reyes is all about remembrance of the birth of Christ. The person who find the baby during the holiday is expected to host Día de la Candelaria, which highlights the cyclical nature of memory and community. Dia de Los Muertos is all about remembrance of the dead. Pan de muerto, sugar skulls, and calabaza en tacha are all intended to honor the diseased. The ofrendas are often carried on through generations. Cinco de Mayo is all about remembrance of Mexico's victory. -
How memory can be seen in the holidays (part 2)
Traditional foods like mole poblano, tamales, and street tacos are served to recollect upon Mexican heritage and celebrate national Mexican identity. Cinco de Mayo is one of the best examples of widespread Mexican culture recognition, as it is celebrated all over North America. -
The incredible story of how the Totonac and Nahua people used remembrance of the past to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic (part two)
The indigenous people began to make tortillas out of bananas. They ate quelites and used lard to boil them because oil was scarce. They also learned to cure disease with indigenous edible plants. Some of these plants included Malla Capen, Chayote, and Potro ma´anta. When the COVID-19 pandemic rolled around, the indigenous people began to reuse these practices. They were able to combat the disease and the food shortages by relying on past techniques and ancestral knowledge of the land. -
The incredible story of how the Totonac and Nahua people used remembrance of the past to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic
The Totonac and Nahua people are two indigenous people groups that occupy regions near Puebla, Mexico. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 obviously caused many food shortages. The indigenous groups had experienced illness and food shortages in their past. The Spanish brought with them many new illnesses in the 16th century and limited the amount of food the indigenous people could access. However, the indigenous people were able to adapt and made accommodations accordingly. -
Conclusion
Hopefully this project has provided the viewer with a solid understanding as to how events in Mexican history have shifted Mexican cuisine over time. -
Conclusion (Part 2)
Pilcher wrote, "Mexican cuisine is often considered to be a mestizo fusion of indigenous and Spanish foods, but this mixture did not simply happen by accident; it required the labor, imagination, and sensory appreciation of both native and immigrant cooks. In turn, diverse regional and ethnic expressions of domestic cooking, street food, festival dishes...provided affective foundations for rival attempts to define a Mexican national identity." Mexican food is defined by cultural blending. -
Works Cited part one
- “Cinco de Mayo 2024: Facts, Meaning Celebrations.” History.com. Accessed February 28, 2025. https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/cinco-de-mayo.
- [1631]. Libro de cocina [1631]. [Manuscript Cookbook].
- Lugo-Morin, Diosey Ramon. “Looking into the Past to Build the Future: Food, Memory, and Identity in the Indigenous Societies of Puebla, Mexico - Journal of Ethnic Foods.” BioMed Central, February 23, 2022.
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Works Cited Part 2
- Pilcher, Jeffrey M. "Taste, Smell, and Flavor in Mexico." Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Latin American History. 3 Mar. 2016; Accessed 1 Mar. 2025. https://oxfordre.com/latinamericanhistory/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199366439.001.0001/acrefore-9780199366439-e-260.
- “The Ancient Origins of Day of the Dead.” History.com. Accessed February 28, 2025. https://www.history.com/news/day-dead-dia-de-muertos-origins.
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Works Cited Part 3
- “The Culinary Memory of Mexico - Google Arts Culture.” Google. Accessed February 28, 2025. https://artsandculture.google.com/story/0gVhjsRxXMxYHw.
- “Día de Los Reyes Magos.” Enforex. Accessed February 28, 2025. https://www.enforex.com/culture/reyes-magos.html.