Mexicans and Arabs (things to do, areas, business, skyscraper)

[tvdxer]

I was reading a book about Arab culture and customs today at Barnes and Noble. It seemed to be written for a target audience of businessmen, diplomats, expats-to-be, and visitors to the region and addressed such themes as hospitality, family structure, religion, and language, as well as regional differences and peculiarities. I enjoyed the down-to-business tone and practical tips it offered. It was also very up to date (2012).

One thing I couldn't help but thinking while paging through the book is how much Arab culture, as portrayed by the book, resembled Mexican culture, particularly in areas such as hospitality, circumlocution (directness), fatalism, and the friend vs. stranger distinction. On the other hand, there were also many differences (especially regarding family and marriage), but the similarities were too striking to be ignored.

Has anybody noticed a similarity between the two cultures?

[c3dw]

No, but I've heard many say Mexican culture is most similar to Italian or Phillipino.

[mexguy]

Before the conquest, what now is Spain was dominated by Arabs (711-1492), so arab influences in the Spanish colonies were inevitable.

Most conquerors came from Andalucia, a region with strong Muslim influence, many Sephardic Jews were also part of the conquerors.

This is very noticeable in northern cities like Monterrey, where customs and even food are resemblances of Arab or Jewish culture.

[xS☺B☺s]

Originally Posted by tvdxer

I was reading a book about Arab culture and customs today at Barnes and Noble. It seemed to be written for a target audience of businessmen, diplomats, expats-to-be, and visitors to the region and addressed such themes as hospitality, family structure, religion, and language, as well as regional differences and peculiarities. I enjoyed the down-to-business tone and practical tips it offered. It was also very up to date (2012).

One thing I couldn't help but thinking while paging through the book is how much Arab culture, as portrayed by the book, resembled Mexican culture, particularly in areas such as hospitality, circumlocution (directness), fatalism, and the friend vs. stranger distinction. On the other hand, there were also many differences (especially regarding family and marriage), but the similarities were too striking to be ignored.

Has anybody noticed a similarity between the two cultures?

I hadn't, but that is a very interesting observation. I wonder if Precolumbian Meso American culture paralleled Middle Eastern. Zoroastrianism is on my list of things to do.

Originally Posted by mexguy

Before the conquest, what now is Spain was dominated by Arabs (711-1492), so arab influences in the Spanish colonies were inevitable.

Most conquerors came from Andalucia, a region with strong Muslim influence, many Sephardic Jews were also part of the conquerors.

This is very noticeable in northern cities like Monterrey, where customs and even food are resemblances of Arab or Jewish culture.

Good points.

I do enjoy a high-level discussion on world cultures.

[Avex]

There is definitely a connection between Mexico and the Arab world

A look at a more recent connection:

GOOD FOOD IN MEXICO CITY: The Lebanese Connection: Middle Eastern Cuisine in Mexico City

A more distant connection :

Saudi Aramco World : The Mexican Kitchen’s Islamic Connection

Mexico & Morocco - SkyscraperCity

I happen to be one of those Mexicans that always gets confused for middle eastern so this aspect of Mexico really intrigues me.

[robertpolyglot]

Originally Posted by tvdxer

Has anybody noticed a similarity between the two cultures?

Both are more emotive than usual, but I think that's a latitudinal thing. I don't see many cultural similarities.

On a few rare instances, I have seen situations where I assumed that a Central American was Middle Eastern, and vice-versa. These people did admit that they are often mistaken this way. However, with most people from these regions, they are usually distinctive looking enough to figure out the part of the world they come from.

[Trimac20]

Spanish culture was influenced by both Arabs and Moors so it would be no big surprise. I never thought of Mexicans as having Arab/Moorish blood, but it's an interesting idea.

[mikmaq32]

Before the age of trains, waterways defined geography not landmasses.

Mediterrean culture was just that. So it should almost be of zero surprise that there cultures are so much alike.

The north atlantic culture that the brits, germans, and dutch have, was introduced to southern europe only recently.

Also it's worth noting that there was a massive amount of immigration of christian-arabs, jewish-arabs etc to latin america.

[jtur88]

What we how think of as Arab Culture is a vestige of what was, up until a century of so ago, Mediterranean Culture. Before the world wars, there was little difference in the cultures of the Middle East, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Spain, or Morocco.

Much of the cultural value system in Mexico and the rest of Latin America came straight from Spain, and there is still a residue of the old Mediterranean culture of Spain.

[tijlover]

I've been keenly aware, all along, through my powers of observation and history readings, the Arab/Jewish characteristics of a number of Mexicans I've encountered over the years.

Not to be stereotypical, the nose structure is what I've noticed the most!

Yes, I've been to Monterrey, and being a great people watcher, I had to remind myself when I was there, a number of times, I'm in Mexico! I'm in Mexico!

And what blood mix are the biggest go-getters in Mexico? Or the Phillippines?