Religion has played a central role in Mexican culture for thousands of years. From the ancient Aztec and Mayan religions to the dominant Roman Catholic faith today, Mexican religious practices have been a pillar of Mexican society and culture since before recorded history
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Frequently Asked Questions about Religion in Mexico
What is Mexico’s main religion?
Mexico has no official religion, but Roman Catholicism is the main religion of Mexico. More than 80% of Mexicans identify as Roman Catholic.
What are other Mexican religions?
In addition to its large Catholic population, Mexico has Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mennonites, evangelical Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Baha’i.
How important is religion in Mexico today?
Religion continues to be an important part of most Mexicans’ lives today, though the percentage of those who report regularly attending religious services has been falling slowly.
What religion was Mexico before Christianity?
Before the arrival of Christianity with the Spanish conquistadores, a large number of closely related indigenous religions were observed. These religions were polytheistic and deeply entwined with the political structures of indigenous societies.
What is the symbolism of skeletons in Mexican culture?
Although the majority of Mexicans identify as Catholic, many continue to have beliefs derived from the Mesoamerican religions that preceded the arrival of Christianity. This includes the importance of honoring and venerating the dead. This practice is closely tied to the Day of the Dead celebration, in which skulls and skeletons are prominent symbols.
A Brief History of Religion in Mexico
Religion in Mexico before Christianity
Mayan Religion
Massive pyramids rise out of the jungle, adorned with elaborate carved decorations—these pre-Columbian religious monuments are some of the most iconic and best-known tourist attractions in Mexico, and they attest to both the prominence and complexity of religion in ancient Mexico.
Mexican religious beliefs and practices were already well-developed before the birth of Jesus Christ. Around 500 BC, the Mayan people in Mexico began the construction of complex temples throughout Central America.
Religion played a central role in Mayan politics: kings and other leaders were viewed as divine, and used religion to justify their rule. Like the religions observed throughout Europe at this time, the Mayan religion was polytheistic, with dozens of major and minor gods.
The Mayan religion also included human sacrifice. On important occasions, a human sacrifice was made to appease the gods and assure good fortune. Usually, the person sacrificed was a high-ranking enemy captured in war.
Aztec Religion
Like the Mayan, the Aztec religion was polytheistic, including such gods as Quetzalcoatl, the Feathered Serpent, Mixcoatl, the Cloud Serpent. Aztec religion also involved human sacrifice, including in some situations an expectation that the Aztec ruler climb a mountain and sacrifice himself in order to appease the rain gods.
Aztec society included a large priestly class tasked with maintaining proper relationships with the gods and keeping them satisfied by providing frequent offerings.
Religion in Mexico following the Arrival of the Spanish
When the Spanish arrived in Mexico in 1517, one of their primary goals (in addition to obtaining riches and power) was to win converts to Catholicism. Unfortunately, the process of conversion was often carried out in spectacularly un-Christian ways.
When Hernan Cortes and his men captured the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan in 1519, they destroyed the main Aztec temple. The Spanish then constructed Mexico City’s Metropolitan Cathedral—the oldest in Latin America—next to the ruins. A similar process was carried out throughout Mexico, with native temples being destroyed and replaced by churches. Political leaders were forcibly converted, and children were sometimes kidnapped from their parents so they could be raised as Catholic.
Catholicism in Mexico Today
A Combination of Catholic and Indigenous Traditions
The Spanish program of conversion was successful: although Mexico has no official religion, today, more than 80% of the population identifies as Roman Catholic.
However, perhaps reflecting the not-entirely-voluntary nature of the conversions, many Mexican Catholics continue to hold some beliefs deriving from the indigenous Mexican religions that existed prior to the Spaniards’ arrival. For example, almost half of Mexican Catholics believe in reincarnation, and more than 30 percent believe in magic, witchcraft, and communication with spirits. Even the Virgin of Guadalupe, the Patroness of Mexico, first appeared to an indigenous Mexican suspiciously close to the destroyed temple of an Aztec goddess.
The influence of native Mesoamerican religions can even be seen in one of Mexico’s most famous holidays, Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. The holiday has its origins in the indigenous traditions of honoring the dead, but altars include Catholic rosaries and images of the Virgin Mary.
Today, many of Mexico’s holidays and festivals have a link to the Roman Catholic religion. Semana Santa, or Holy Week, marks the week before Easter and is celebrated with food, gatherings, and religious observances. Carnaval, the last chance to blow off steam before Lent, is celebrated with huge parties, parades, and dancing. December 12th is the feast day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, honoring Mexico’s Patroness and is a nationwide public holiday. Many of the devoted make pilgrimages to the Basilica in Mexico City to pay tribute. And, as in much of the rest of the Christian world, Christmas is an important holiday in Mexico.
Other Religions in Mexico Today
While Roman Catholicism is the main religion of Mexico, many other religions are also represented. Protestant Christians, including evangelicals, Jehovah’s Wintesses, Mennonites, and others make up almost 9% of the population. In addition, Mexico is home to small communities of Jews, Muslims, and others.