History and Independence
From which country did Mexico gain independence?
Spain
What desert, shared with the U.S., lies in northern Mexico?
Sonoran Desert
What colorful, star-shaped decoration is commonly used during Mexican celebrations and filled with candy?
Piñata
What is Mexico’s national alcoholic beverage, distilled from the blue agave plant?
tequila
Which Mexican artist is famous for her self-portraits and unibrow?
Frida Kahlo
Name any of the Mexican revolutionary leaders.
Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla
Emiliano Zapata
Pancho Villa
Jose Maria Morelos
Name a pyramid in Mexico
El Castillo (the Temple of Kukulcan) at Chichen Itza, Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan
Pyramid of the Moon at Teotihuacan
Pyramid of Cholula
During Las Posadas, what biblical story is reenacted?
Mary and Joseph’s search for lodging before Jesus’ birth
What popular Mexican street food consists of grilled corn on the cob slathered with mayonnaise, cheese, chili powder, and lime?
elote or esquite
Which Mexican-American labor leader and activist co-founded the United Farm Workers union and fought for farmworkers’ rights?
César Chávez
Which Mexican holiday on May 5th commemorates the Battle of Puebla and a victory over the French?
Cinco de mayo
Name one of Mexico’s two longest rivers.
Rio Grande (Río Bravo) or Usumacinta River
What is the traditional dance that involves a large, colorful skirt and mariachi music?
Jarabe Tapatío (Mexican Hat Dance)
What spicy Mexican soup is made from hominy and meat, often garnished with radishes, lime, and lettuce or cabbage?
pozole
Name the Mexican director who won multiple Academy Awards for The Shape of Water and Pan’s Labyrinth.
Guillermo del Toro
In what year did Mexico officially gain independence?
1821
Which large volcano near Mexico City is nicknamed “Smoking Mountain”?
Popocatépetl
What vibrant craft involves brightly painted wooden figures of animals, sometimes fantastical, often linked to Oaxacan culture?
Alebrijes
What sweet Mexican bread, often enjoyed with hot chocolate or coffee, is topped with a sugar crust and resembles a seashell?
concha
Which popular Mexican boxer just had a fight this weekend and lost to Crawford?
Saul Canelo Alvarez
The Mexican War of Independence began in what year?
1810
What famous underwater cave system on the Yucatán Peninsula is popular with divers and sacred to the Maya?
cenotes
What traditional Mexican music style, often featuring violins, trumpets, and guitars, originated in the state of Jalisco?
Mariachi
Which sauce made of chili peppers, chocolate, and spices is considered a national dish of Mexico?
mole
Which Mexican-American singer, known as the “Queen of Tejano Music,” became a cultural icon before her tragic death in 1995?
Selena Quintanilla-Pérez