Discover the Magic: 13 Exciting Fun Facts About Mexico for Curious Kids!

1. Chocolate Explorer

What do you get when you cross an explorer, a sweet tooth, and a very confused European palate? The fantastic tale of Mexico introducing chocolate to the world, of course! Hernán Cortés, a Spanish conquistador, is believed to have brought cocoa seeds from his expeditions to the Americas back to Spain in the 16th century: Little did he know, his discovery would sweeten lives across Europe, giving birth to new ways to manufacture and produce the beloved treat we all enjoy today.
Source => magnumicecream.com

2. Underwater Mayan Caves

Imagine scuba-diving through a scene from “Finding Nemo” while bumping into Mayan artifacts in the process: Mexico's Yucatan peninsula houses the world's largest flooded cave system, the Sac Actun and Dos Ojos, stretching 347 kilometers (216 miles) and containing evidence of America's first settlers, extinct fauna, and the Mayan culture—the ultimate underwater playground for archaeologists and enthusiasts alike.
Source => cnn.com

Did you know Puerto Rico has its own "ghost" frog, the coquí guajón? Discover the mysterious creature that's now at the center of conservation efforts on the island! 🐸👻

=> Fun Facts about Puerto-Rico

3. Mexico's Roaring Jaguars

Move over, Katy Perry: Mexico is actually the one with the real "roar!" In this land of spicy delights, it's the wild jaguars that take center stage, with a staggering 4,000 of these magnificent beasts calling Mexico's forests and jungles their home.
Source => britannica.com

4. Flag-tastic Makeovers

You won't believe what's been "flagged" in Mexico's history: The Mexican flag has seen more makeovers than a reality TV show, with the most recent version, featuring green, white, and red stripes alongside the coat of arms, being adopted in 1968!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

5. Sneezing Volcanoes

Watch out, things are getting steamy in Mexico: the country is home to over 3,000 volcanoes with 14 of them actively spicing up the landscape! The Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, stretching over 600 miles from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, houses the giant Volcán de Colima and Popocatépetl. Despite eruptions causing evacuations, people have become accustomed to living beside these sneezing giants of the earth.
Source => wired.com

6. Sombrero's World Tour

Hold onto your hats, folks, because this is going to be mind-blowing: sombreros, the iconic Mexican headgear, actually hailed from 15th century Spain and possibly Mongolian cowboys, only then to become a sun-shielding staple of local Mexican culture and tradition.
Source => ontheborder.com.au

7. Mexico's Monster Pyramid

Get ready to break out your trusty tape measure, kids, because we've got a pyramid that makes the Egyptian ones look like toddler's play blocks! Feast your eyeballs on this Mexican marvel: The Great Pyramid of Cholula is actually six superimposed structures, built over a thousand years, with a 300 by 315-meter base and a 25-meter height – making it the world's largest pyramid by volume, dedicated to the god Quetzalcoatl, and still attracting pilgrims and visitors all these eons later.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

8. Toe-Tangling La Bamba

Before toe-wrestling became a hipster's wedding craze, an old Mexican dance had couples tangling their toes over love and ribbons: "La Bamba," a traditional folk tune from Veracruz, Mexico, dates back to the 18th century, and it was customary for newlyweds to try tying a ribbon using only their feet while dancing. The song leaped into the rock 'n' roll limelight when Ritchie Valens spun the classic melody into a chart-topping hit in the 1950s, making it the first Latin-based tune to captivate pop and rock fans.
Source => npr.org

9. Piñata World Party

Before party-goers went candy-crazy with piñatas, Aztecs were busy feathering their pots and Chinese were having "farm animal fiestas": The piñata has quite a worldly origin, starting with Aztecs using feathered pots in ceremonies and the Chinese filling hollow farm animal effigies with seeds before it reached Italy and Spain, where soldiers played blindfolded to hit hanging clay pots. It eventually became a Mexican Christian tradition for Lent and gained fame in Acolman during the 16th century, where only two workshops continue the fading craft today.
Source => library.pima.gov

10. Marine Family Reunion

If you thought your family reunions were crowded, brace yourself for Mexico's marine shindig: Mexico is home to over 6,000 different species of sea creatures along its 23,761 km coastline, including party-loving sea turtles, groovy dolphins, majestic whales, and vibrant tropical fish in all their colorful finery.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

11. Burritos' Surprise Party

If burritos, tacos, and quesadillas had a party, burritos would be that unexpected guest bringing an American twist to the Mexican fiesta: Despite being widely associated with Mexican cuisine, burritos were actually created by Mexican-American migrants, while tacos and quesadillas have been traditional Mexican dishes for centuries, strutting their stuff as either sandwiches or tacos, depending on who you ask. Either way, they have become irresistibly delicious icons of Mexico's culinary offerings.
Source => mexicali-blue.com

12. Skeleton Family Bash

Who says hosting a family reunion can't be a grave affair? In Mexico, they bring a whole new meaning to the term "reunion," with a few extra skeletons in the closet: The Day of the Dead celebrations are a mixture of Mesoamerican, European, and Spanish customs, from October 31 to November 2. During this time, families warmly welcome back the souls of the dead for a fabulous reunion filled with food, drinks, and festivities. These lively celebrations stem from pre-Columbian Mesoamerican traditions, where death was considered a natural part of life's cycle. It's said that the gates to heaven swing open at midnight on October 31, reuniting families with their dearly departed children for 24 hours, and the adult spirits get to join the fun on November 2.
Source => history.com

13. Mexico's Magic Kingdoms

Who needs Disneyland when Mexico's got 35 magical kingdoms of its own: Mexico is home to 35 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including ancient cities like Chichen-Itza, vibrant historic centers like Zacatecas, and even the awe-inspiring Central University City Campus of the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM).
Source => re-thinkingthefuture.com