Arte, Color & Fiesta
Each year the House of Mexico hosts a festival called “Arte, Color & Fiesta”. This festival is a celebration of “art”, music, and food. It is a major fund raiser with the focus on an exhibition of art work by artists from both the United States and Mexico. It includes entertainment by local musicians and folklorico dance groups, both a silent and live auction, and food and beverages.

Lawn Program:
The yearly lawn program hosted by the House of Mexico is held in the month of either March or April. The program is dedicated to the “children” in honor of “Dia de los Ninos” (Day of the Children). In Mexico, Dia de los Ninos is celebrated on April 30th. The entertainment varies from Mariachi musicians to folklorico dance groups representing different regions of Mexico.

Food and beverages are sold at this event and vary from tostadas to carne asada to enchiladas. Beverages sold are traditional drinks such as horchata, a rice drink; Jamaica which is made from the bibiscus flowers.

The Ethnic Food Fair and the December Nights
The House of Mexico participates in both events. The Ethnic Food Fair is held on the last Saturday of May and December Nights is held on the first Friday and Saturday of December. The featured food varies from tamales to carne asada to tostadas, and pozole (a pork and hominy stew). In addition to food, for the December Nights event, Mexican coffee (kalua and tequila with coffee) is prepared and served.

Once a year the members of the House of Mexico help the children to participate in an event called “Passport to the World”.  It is sponsored by the Escondido Children’s Museum. Times vary and are announced in advance.

History of Mexico
The ancient people of Mexico lived by the rhythm of the seasons, like the sun and moon based calendars, much as it is done today in most parts of the world. Within these circles of time, great civilizations were born and died.  Some of them living in complete isolation but most of them traded and interacted with people as far away the Great Plains of the U.S. and as far as the mountains of Peru.  No less fascinating is the history of colonial and modern Mexico, which has blended the European and world views into creating a country of the most important developing nations.

Art in Mexico
Due to the multi-ethnic roots it influenced the Mexican arts and is as expressive and varied as the Mexican landscape itself.  The Spanish baroque became the Mexican baroque.  Glass blowers, painters, woodcarvers, potters and weavers all feel at home in Mexico. 

Everyday items often became simple works of art. Jewelry became one of the finest in the world, because of creations made of silver, gold and jade.  After the European conquest a new form of folk art emerged because they learned the European techniques.  Today, popular art is one of Mexico’s richest treasures.

Music in Mexico
Every Mexican is a musician in their soul and in their heart. There is a saying: “Sorrow also sings, when it runs too deep to cry”.  The mariachis and their music are the most familiar and popular entertainers. Their themes are often the sentimental singing of lost loves and lost battles. Later, passionate ballads and soulful tunes emerged and were played by the Mariachis.  This romantic and passionate singing will touch every listener’s heart, and the old favorites as well as the modern repertoires will bring cheers from their fans.

Land Area: 1,972,550 sq km                              
Population:  108,700,891 (July 2007 est.)
Capital City: Mexico City                                        
Language:  Spanish, various Mayan, Nahuatl, and other regional indigenous languages
Religion:  Roman Catholic 76.5%, Protestant 6.3% (Pentecostal 1.4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.1%, other 3.8%), other 0.3%, unspecified 13.8%, none 3.1% (2000 census)
Form of Government: federal republic
Economy:Mexico has a free market economy that recently entered the trillion dollar class. It contains a mixture of modern and outmoded industry and agriculture, increasingly dominated by the private sector. Recent administrations have expanded competition in seaports, railroads, telecommunications, electricity generation, natural gas distribution, and airports. Per capita income is one-fourth that of the US; income distribution remains highly unequal. Trade with the US and Canada has tripled since the implementation of NAFTA in 1994. Mexico has 12 free trade agreements with over 40 countries including, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, the European Free Trade Area, and Japan, putting more than 90% of trade under free trade agreements.
Export: manufactured goods, oil and oil products, silver, fruits, vegetables, coffee, cotton

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Source: The World Factbook - Mexico