An Overview of Religion in Mexico

Religion in Mexico is a huge part of Mexican culture and the Mexican way of live for many of the country's people. The predominant religion in Mexico is Catholicism, with roughly 92 percent of the population being Roman Catholic. A fraction of the population identifies itself as being of the evangelical faith or Protestant. A few groups of people, namely Native Mexicans or descendants of indigenous Mexicans, follow the indigenous culture and religion. Regardless, the Catholic faith is tied into many indigenous beliefs.

It's not shocking that many people in Mexico are Catholic. Back in 1519, Hernan Cortes, a Catholic Spaniard, conquered Mexico. When he first landed on the coast of "New Spain," he was accompanied by Roman Catholic clergy. At this time, Catholicism didn't exist in Mexico and South America. Many of the people living in Mexico followed their own polytheistic religions and other indigenous beliefs. Cortes and the clergy made it a quest to convert these people in the name of Spain and the Catholic Church.

Today, the efforts of Cortes and the early Roman Catholic clergy can still be seen in Mexico. Catholicism is not just a religion; it's a way of life. Statistics show that almost 50 percent of Mexico's population attends weekly mass at their local church. Weekly isn't just a part of Mexican culture. Many ceremonies, including baptisms, confirmations, and weddings revolve around the Catholic Church. Also, Catholic Mexicans also celebrate traditional Catholic holidays such as Easter or Christmas. Ceremonies and weekly mass aren't the only ways that Catholicism affects Mexican culture. Much of what you see inside of a traditional Mexican home has to do with its dweller's faith. Whether a house is small and rural or large and urban, crosses, rosaries, and small candles honoring Jesus or Our Lady of Guadalupe decorate most homes in Mexico. Praying is also very common throughout Mexican homes. Families will pray during meals or privately in their separate rooms. Even many descendents of indigenous people practice Catholicism in their own unique ways.

While indigenous people of Mexico are considered a minority, they are part of a large majority of the population when it comes to practicing Roman Catholicism. Indigenous beliefs meshed with traditional Catholic beliefs over time, creating a distinct, but unique practice. This mixed practice is more predominant in the southern areas of the country. Usually people that follow this slightly different practice change the appearance of their dress and the style of their mass. Priests will wear more traditional indigenous attire as opposed to more of "Western" style of dress. A priest's attire will be decorated with beautiful woven symbols with bright colors. Additionally, the typical "cross" is shown as a flowered tree of life. One other important variation is the presence of a "jmen" in an indigenous Mayan community.

A "jmen," or a medicine man, is considered part of the religion, but does not exist in traditional Mexican Catholic communities. One major example of how indigenous beliefs have mixed with Catholicism is the Day of the Dead. The holiday was derived from ancient Aztec and Mesoamerican roots. As many people know, this is a day that deceased ancestors are honored by their current living families. This originally indigenous practice mixed with Catholicism such that many Catholic families build Day of the Dead altars with Christian crosses or images of the Virgin Mary or Jesus.

Sources:

Wikipedia. "Religion in Mexico." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Mexico

Metareligion. "Mexico Religion." http://www.meta-religion.com/World_Religions/Articles/mexico_religion.htm

Britannica."Mexico Religion." http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-27386/Mexico