Culture

Orgullo Latino

Cosechas: Costa Rica in a cup
Ordering at Cosechas is all about choice. You can, of course, order off the menu, which has mouthwatering combinations of pineapple, celery, cucumber and parsley; orange, mango and peach; and banana, pineapple, mango and avocado. But the real fun is in customizing your own smoothie from the watermelon-coloured counter, where you will find a whole range of fresh, seasonal, and delicious fruits and vegetables to choose from.
Lucha libre: A metaphor for life
Some say if you have never seen a lucha libre fight in the Arena México in Ciudad de México, you haven’t lived. While I wouldn't go quite so far, the sentiment holds true. From the colorful masks to the unique personalities of the luchadores, lucha libre is much more than a sport.
Ancient innovators: We’ve all learnt from the Incas
"The Incas created the greatest empire that existed in the southern hemisphere, incorporating the cultural and technological advances of the ancestral cultures that they conquered," José María Fernández Díaz-Formentí, a researcher, notes. José is right, of course. In addition to creating the first roads and suspension bridges, accounting systems and pioneering brain surgery, the Inca also saved the world from (potential) starvation.
How telenovelas influenced soap operas
When Ugly Betty was first released in the US, it was an instant hit. Consisting of 42-minute episodes across five seasons, it followed the character of US-Mexican Betty Suárez as she experienced the ups and downs of a job at a fashion magazine. However the same story had already played out a decade before in the Colombian telenovela, Yo soy Betty, la fea.
We gave salsa to the world
"We all have an innate pride in knowing how to dance and move our hips," says Teo Gómez, the owner and main dance instructor at The Salsa Sabrosa School in New York. "It also gives an important sense of identity where one can feel represented by something as global as a musical genre."
Doña Angela: The abuelita outperforming Gordon Ramsay on YouTube
"She reminds me so much of my grandmother that has passed on," says a commenter on one Latinometrics article. "It gives me a small connection to my grandmother trying to teach me how to cook food from our heritage. Unfortunately, I was (too) stubborn to learn when I was a kid. Her videos take me back."
The Maya discovered the world’s favorite treat
Despite decades of inaccurate portrayals of the Maya in US and European media, they developed one of the world's largest and most advanced civilizations in Mesoamerica over 2,000 years ago. Mysteriously, these advances are overlooked as textbooks educate children about the advances of "less melanated" civilizations.
Five podcasts that empower Latinos
Podcasts – those nifty audio episodes on everything from true-crime deep dives to advice on how to make the perfect guacamole – have taken the world by storm. According to recent data, there are over 383 million podcast listeners across the globe, of which 100 million are located in the US, 2.4 million podcasts and more than 66 million episodes.
Latino destino: How we're creating opportunities in every US state
Today, we represent nearly a fifth of the total US population. We are also the second-largest ethnic group in the country. But the data also shows that Latinos are dispersed rather unevenly across the country – and that our numbers are growing at vastly different rates depending on the state.
How important is Spanglish? Jangueamos with a linguistics expert to find out
Many of us living in the US are proud Spanglish speakers and see it as a link between two cultures we identify with. It brings English and Spanish together linguistically and, for many of us, this combination also represents the cultural reality of our households.
Reggaetón: How Latin music took over the world
Who remembers a time before reggaetón? A vibrant blend of reggae, dancehall, and Latino music, it has been the world's most popular music genre for more than 20 years - and shows few signs of stopping.
Don’t talk to me in tacos: Why it's time to rethink Hispanic Heritage Month
Denisse Coquet speaks to Lea Landaverde about the problem with marketing along stereotypical cultural lines during Hispanic Heritage Month – and every other day of the year.
Not all Latinos are the same
While Latinos may share a language, continent, easy smile and love for good hip-shaking music, putting us in the same box dilutes a rich mestizo culture made up of many unique intricacies, says Denisse Coquet.
Five ways to honor Hispanic heritage every day
Mid-September marks the start of the Hispanic Heritage Month, but at Mayorga,  we celebrate our heritage every day, all year round. We show you different ways in which you can honor hispanic heritage.