Mexican Civilization

The best time to talk to my family is during our dinner meal, where I learn a lot about the Mexican culture through their different traditions and customs. From what I have gathered Christmas through the New Year and into February there is many that are celebrated. Asenti our grandfather who also lives in our complex, has taught us a lot about the different Mexican traditions based around the New Year for good luck. I learned that on New Years Eve, women walk around the fiestas or on the street with their purses, in hopes that people will throw money into them and wish them good travels. Another tradtions is to leave a llama or lamb by the door where people enter and exit your house, and by this lamb people are suppose to leave money to wish the family good health into the new year. On New Years a tray is laid out with a candle in the center and after everyone drops money into the tray it is then filled with water for more good luck.
Besides traditions I also learned that there is a man who whistle outside each street, and his job is basically like block security for the neighborhood. You know he is coming when he blows his whistle and each week if you would like him to watch your house, you pay him ten pesos or 1 dollar. I was also told if he sees a lady of the house walking home, he will approach her and walk her the rest of the way home for safety.
I have also been able to try real loose leaf tea from the market near the Palacio de Cortez. This tea that I tried is suppose to make you sleep well, and for the record it works really good. They also sell tea there that will attract the opposite sex. I found the tea to be very delicious and interesting. I would like to take some home!
One last thing that I learned from Asenti was his theory on the beginning of people. From his answer I gathered that he felt that people began in the water. And now when we eat pescado or fish, it brings us good memory.
This stuff is very interesting and a lot different then what we practice and believe in the United States.