Religious Effects on Culture

In celebration of Easter, it is Mexican custom to break confetti filled eggs over the heads of family and friends.

The Day of the Dead is not a mournful occasion. It expresses a certain uniquley Mexican attitude toward death. Mexicans are taught from childhood not to fear death but to accpet it as the beginging of another life. Cities and towns are decorated with yellow flowers in remembrance of the dead. Children eat candy skeletons and eyes. On this day, cemetaries are visited more than any time during the year. In fact, families camp out between grave stones.

During the 9 days before Christmas groups called Santos Peregrinos ("holy piligrims") act out the journey of Mary and Joseph. They travel from house to house and in song, ask to be admitted. They are continually refused until a house (decided upon in advance) invites them in. Here there they break pinatas., sing Christmas carols and create nativity scenes.