Mexico city is the oldest city in North America and one of the largest in the world. Several more interesting and fun facts about Mexico will follow in this Vacayholics article.
Different people have different renditions of Mexico. Some might think of it as the home of Salma Hayek, while others doing tequila shots at a bar will thank it for giving them tequila. Others might immediately think of it when Spanish is heard, and still others might think of it while munching on some tortillas, or enjoying a dish of Ceviche.
Whatever maybe your reasons for thinking of Mexico, the following Vacayholics article will get into a little more detail, go beyond the obvious, and supply you with some fun facts on the same.
Facts About Mexico
Before getting into the fun facts, let’s get some important facts about Mexico and Mexican history in order.
- The official name of Mexico is Estados Únidos Mexicanos (United Mexican States).
- Mexico has 31 states and Mexico city is the capital.
- The maximum number of its inhabitants are Roman Catholics. In fact, Mexican culture has the second largest Catholic population in the world.
- It has the maximum number of Spanish speakers in the world.
- Mexico City is built over the ruins of the Aztec city―Tenochtitlán.
- The Mexican flag has 3 vertical stripes on it―Green, red, and white. The green stands for hope, the white for purity, and the red for the blood of the Mexican people.
- Mexico City is the oldest city in North America.
- Father Hidalgo is considered the father of modern Mexico because of his pivotal role in freeing it from Spanish rule in 1810.
Fun Facts
- Mexico is responsible for introducing chocolate to the world. It was considered the ‘drink of the gods’ by the early Aztec culture inhabitants.
- Mexico introduced chillies and corn to the world as well.
- The currency of Mexico is the Peso.
- The country experiences frequent volcanoes because it is situated in the ‘Ring of Fire’, which has the most violent earthquakes and volcanic zones.
- The smallest volcano in the world, the Cuexcomate, is situated in Mexico in the city of Puebla, and is only 43 feet tall.
- Mexico is the largest manufacturer of salt in the world.
- The City of Mexico was built on a water reservoir and it sinks about 6-10 inches every year.
- The Chichen Itza pyramid is considered one of the wonders of the world and it is said that if you stand by the pyramid, you can hear a bird singing.
- The oldest living tree in the world (Arbol de Tule) is 40 feet tall and is situated in Mexico.
- The largest bullfighting ring of the world, Plaza de Toros is in Mexico.
- The popular Caesar salad is named after Caesar Cardini.
- The first printing press used in North America was used in Mexico.
- The Mexican and the United States border is the second largest in the world.
- The Chihuahua breed of dog is named after a Mexican state.
- Mexico is where the tortilla and burrito were born among other famous Mexican foods.
- Tequila is the national drink of the country.
- Hundreds of dinosaur bones have been found in Northern Mexico.
- Mexican children take the name of both their parents (father’s last and mother’s maiden) to preserve the heritage.
- The first astronomers convention was held in Mexico in 700 A.D.
- The poinsettia plant is named after Ambassador Poinsett.
- The name tomato comes from the Aztec language.
- Actor Anthony Quinn was the first Mexican to win an Academy Award for his role in the 1952 movie Viva Zapata.
- Mexico receives over 20 million tourists every year.
- The literacy rate in Mexico is almost 98%.
- Swine flu (also called the H1N1 virus) originated in Mexico.
With this very interesting information on Mexico for kids, we have tried to shed light on some of the Mexico fun facts and trivia such that kids are better able to understand what the place is all about.
