By the late 1800s, the once-powerful Spanish empire was losing territories and on the brink of collapse while the United States was rapidly gaining ground internationally. On February 15, 1898, the mysterious explosion of the battleship USS Maine in the Havana Harbor marked a breaking point

Yelapa is a small, secluded coastal town inside a natural reserve in Jalisco, Mexico, renowned for its natural beauty: warm and crystalline sea, semi-virgin beaches, incredibly diverse flora and fauna, and the peace and quiet that surrounds the whole town. Although off the beaten track,

The charango is a stringed instrument, similar to a guitar, but smaller in size and higher in pitch, that has a very important place in traditional Andean music. The sweet musical tones of the charango can be heard in the folk music of Chile, Colombia,

The legend of los Reyes Magos is one of the most popular Christian myths, and it has inspired countless works of art. One example is the 'Adoración de los Reyes Magos' (Adoration of the Magi) by renowned Spanish artist Diego Velázquez from 1619. Although at

Every New Year's Eve people all over the Spanish-speaking world perform curious rituals, such as eating grapes, running with suitcases or wearing specific-color underwear, to start the new year with the right foot. While many of these traditions are common to all Latin-American countries, Mexico

The fiesta del Takari is a special celebration from Tarímbaro, Michoacán, that perfectly exemplifies Mexico's religious syncretism by combining the seasonal agricultural rituals of the Purépecha people with the Catholic Christmas traditions of the Spanish people. Although preparations begin on December 15 with the procuring of

On December 12, people all over Mexico come together to celebrate el Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe, patroness of this country. This day marks the anniversary of a series of apparitions by the Virgin Mary in front of an indigenous man in the Hill

La Catrina is one of the most recognized symbols of el Día de Muertos, but her origins were not related to this popular celebration. This iconic figure first appeared in a satirical zinc etching created by Mexican cartoon illustrator José Guadalupe Posada that took aim

The abanico (hand-held fan) is a practical and ornamental accessory with a long, fascinating history. Originally from Asia, when the folding abanico arrived in Spain it was quickly embraced by the ladies of Andalusia's high society as a means of warding off the heat and

Dolores Huerta is a labor leader and civil rights activist from New Mexico who has dedicated her life to advocating for the rights of workers, immigrants, and women. Huerta, along with Cesar Chavez, co-founded the United Farm Workers and was the first woman to have