Reading Time: 7 minutes

Looking for ways to explore Hispanic culture with your kids? San Antonio, Texas is one of the top ten largest cities in the United States, and I’d bet you wouldn’t guess that this huge American city is flourishing with Hispanic culture. San Antonio actually served as a central point for much of Texas’ multiple owners, including Spain and Mexico. Read on to learn how the huge city of San Antonio started, how it became the diverse place it is today, and learn about some fun things to do in San Antonio with kids to experience Hispanic culture.

As we’ve learned in Part 1 & 2 of our series Exploring Hispanic Culture in America, explorers from Spain (“Spaniards”) colonized Texas and other areas of North America, bringing the Spanish language to the North American continent. This dialect of Spanish from Spain is referred to as Castilian Spanish. These Spanish origins can still be seen in San Antonio, Texas to this day through their architecture, festivities, and historical sites and are a great way to experience their Hispanic history and current culture with your kids and students. Read on to learn a bit of how to experience this rich Hispanic culture in San Antonio, Texas today.

The History and Hispanic Culture of San Antonio

With the rest of Texas, San Antonio was passed between multiple owners who had control over Texas. We learned in Part 2 that Texas flies under six flags, each representing one of the six nations that had full or partial control over the state during its history. These nations are Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the United States of America, and the Confederate States of America. Each nation brought its own culture to the state of Texas which left a lasting impact. 

Spanish explorers stumbled upon the area of San Antonio on June 13th, 1691, the feast day of St. Anthony of Padua, a Portuguese Catholic priest and friar. Because they found the area on this day, the explorers named it San Antonio after him. However, the Spanish Empire did not settle into the area to take control until 1718 with the establishment of the Mission San Antonio de Valero, later known as The Alamo. When it did, however, San Antonio grew to become the largest Spanish settlement in Texas with about 2,000 people of different heritages. With such a flourishing city, San Antonio became the capital of Spain’s province of Texas in 1780. 

The Spanish Empire’s control lasted until 1821 when the Mexican Empire took over as a result of the rebellion against Spanish rule. Mexico, along with much of what is now the southern United States, gained independence from Spain through this rebellion and the Mexican War of Independence.

So where does the U.S. come into play? Well, it would only take 25 more years before the U.S. would annex Texas through the Mexican-American War, leaving San Antonio in shambles. With a population of 800, almost two-thirds what it was before the war, San Antonio sought to pick up its pieces. By 1860, the city had raised it’s population and even increased it to as much as 15,000 people. Today, San Antonio is the 7th largest city in the United States.

Hispanic Culture in San Antonio Today

Even after Texas separated from the Spanish and Mexican Empires and became part of the United States, much of the people and culture remained. 64.5% of San Antonio’s population is Hispanic or Latin American of any race, and 91.3% of that Hispanic population is made up of people of Mexican descent.

This rich Hispanic culture can be seen in San Antonio’s art, music, food, annual festivals, and more. People from San Antonio are proud of their diverse and rich heritage and love to celebrate it. Here are some ways to experience that culture and some things to do in San Antonio with kids.

Hispanic Culture in San Antonio Art & Music

San Antonio keeps their heritage and culture alive through its arts and music. Contemporary fine art featuring Texan art and regional art can be found in one of the wings of the San Antonio Museum of Art near the San Antonio River. The historic Aztec Theater downtown is “considered a Meso-American architectural work of art” by San Antonio’s visitor site. Here you can see the unique and authentic architecture from San Antonio’s past before the arrival of the Spanish as well as experience entertainment and events from San Antonio’s present. 

Where San Antonio’s Hispanic culture truly comes alive, though, is at The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center. The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center’s design shows the beautiful Mission Revival and art-deco theme and “is dedicated to the cultivation, promotion, and preservation of traditional and contemporary Chicano, Latino and Native American arts and culture” (Visit San Antonio). For over 75 years and counting the center has featured everything from art exhibits to historic Hispanic performances such as Flamenco dances and Mariachi and Tejano music. They also offer community events for popular and traditional events free of charge. One of these in particular celebrates Dia de los Muertos. The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center is also home to the annual Latino Film Festival which is the longest-running Latino film festival in the U.S.

There is also one exciting limited-time event that you won’t want to miss. From now until November 2nd, immerse yourself in Mexican art and flora by visiting the Frida Kahlo Oasis exhibit at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. Frida Kahlo, the famed Mexican painter, had a home in Mexico City, the Casa Azul, which is now a museum of her life. In this home, she had a beautiful garden abundant with brightly colored plants and her many different unique pets. This garden was a place of inspiration for Frida and her work and you can now experience it for yourself in the U.S. through the Frida Kahlo Oasis exhibit in San Antonio. This exhibit is an authentic interpretation of her real home garden. The exhibit is complete with stunning details such as paint samples that match the colors of her home, cast molds of the stonework from the entrance, and garden beds full of plants she had in her own home or were represented in her work.

Hispanic Culture in San Antonio Food & Shops

Just like Laredo from Part 2, being located in Southern Texas, San Antonio obviously is home to some good Tex-Mex cuisine. But also being one of the top ten largest U.S. cities also means there are unlimited options when it comes to food, so finding the ones that are actually authentic can be a challenge. To find these gems, however, we look to where the locals go. 

In San Antonio’s inner West Side, you won’t see the same tourist vibe as downtown, but you will find true authentic Hispanic food based on the Mexican meals cooked in the area from before it was part of the U.S. Taste traditional dishes like brick-red stewed pork seasoned with the black pepper-cumin-garlic trinity at Old Danny’s, or lengua (Spanish for “tongue”) tacos at Lupita’s Mexican Restaurant.

San Antonio is also home to the largest Mexican market in the United States, El Mercado (Historic Market Square). This three-block outdoor plaza houses shops and stalls manned by locals selling authentic Mexican artifacts, handmade items, clothing, jewelry, dishes, art, and much more. The Historic Market Square has been around since 1730 when it was gifted by the King of Spain. In the 1890s, it was moved to where it resides today to make room for new settlers entering the city. Throughout its history, it was always a festive and bustling marketplace, with locals selling fresh meats and produce, and even bringing in large ollas (Spanish for “cooking pots”) of home-cooked meals carried out to the plaza.

Things To Do in San Antonio With Kids

Whether you’re a teacher, homeschool parent, or family, San Antonio, Texas has plenty to offer when it comes to exploring Hispanic culture with children. The most well-known historical site in San Antonio is the Alamo, located downtown. While today it is surrounded by modern-day buildings, it served as a Spanish mission when it was first constructed and is a historic battleground from the Battle of the Alamo. The battle was fought between the Mexican Republic and the Republic of Texas during the Texas Revolution. If you’ve ever heard the war cry “Remember the Alamo,” this building is the origin. Today, guided tours are held giving the details of this historic site and all it represents for San Antonio today.

As mentioned earlier, San Antonio has many places to visit to experience Hispanic culture through art and music. Be sure to stop by their historic theaters and museums as well as the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center. To add to this list, the Instituto Cultural De Mexico (Mexican Cultural Institute) offers activities, events, and exhibits that promote San Antonio’s strong Mexican culture through arts and academics.

No matter where you visit in San Antonio, you are sure to quickly see the display of Hispanic culture represented in the city through its arts and music, festivities, food, and shops.

Want to quiz your kids or students on the Hispanic culture facts of San Antonio, Texas that we talked about today? Enter your email address in the box below to have a free printout sent right to your inbox! Download it here.

Let us know what you thought of Part 3 of our series! We hope this has helped to give you some ideas of fun things to do in San Antonio with kids to experience Hispanic culture. Missed part 1 or 2? You can explore Hispanic culture in New Mexico and Laredo, Texas right now!

Looking for a program for students that builds intercultural skills in an engaging way? FL4K offers a program that has been designed to support students on their journey to develop their interculturality and global citizenship. The program provides opportunities throughout its nine-level curriculum for students to interact with authentic resources, such as videos, short menus, ads, images with captions, and much more.

You can get early access to our groundbreaking language program on FL4K.com. Be sure to follow FL4K on social media through the links at the very bottom of this page so you don’t miss our next blog post and more language fun!

 

Reading Time: 6 minutes

Have you heard of the Six Flags over Texas? You may have heard of the Six Flags America theme park, which originated in Arlington, Texas and is named after this Texas slogan. The six flags of Texas represent the six nations that had complete or partial control over the state during its history. However, there is one city, in particular, that is the exception to this rule. That would be Laredo, Texas, where a seventh flag of Texas, the flag of the Republic of the Rio Grande, waves along with the original six. But that’s not the only thing that makes Laredo a special place.

In Part 2 of this series, we’re exploring Laredo, Texas. A city with a lot of culture and a unique history. Long before Laredo was part of the United States – or Texas for that matter – it was populated by explorers from Spain (“Spaniards”) who colonized the region and other areas of North America, bringing the Spanish language to the North American continent. The Spanish language in Spain is referred to as Castilian Spanish (castellano). Spanish origins can still be seen in Laredo, Texas to this day through the architecture, in festivities, and at historical sites. They’re a great way to experience Hispanic culture with your kids or students. Read on to learn a bit of how the influences of its multiple owners remain throughout its modern-day culture and how to experience Hispanic culture in Laredo, Texas today.

The History and Hispanic Culture of Laredo, Texas

In Part 1 of this series, we learned about the Spanish settlers who colonized parts of what is now modern-day Mexico and the United States, including Texas. These settlers were just one of the many nations who have had control over Texas. This is why there are six flags over Texas. Joining Spain on this list is France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the United States of America, and the Confederate States of America. As we mentioned earlier, Laredo has a seventh flag, the flag of the Republic of the Rio Grande. Why is this and who was the Republic of the Rio Grande?

Well, for a very brief time in 1840 during the Mexican Federalist War, Laredo was the capital of the Republic of the Rio Grande, an independent nation resulting from federalist leaders in the surrounding areas attempting to separate from Mexico. This independent nation lasted for less than a year after their defeat at the Battle of Saltillo. While short-lived, the flag of the Republic of the Rio Grande still flies over Laredo, Texas to this day. The previous capitol building of the Republic of the Rio Grande is now the Republic of the Rio Grande Museum. In this museum today, you can find many ways to learn about the history of Laredo and the Republic of the Rio Grande through their many exhibits and displays.

Back before the Republic of the Rio Grande, in the 1750s, Laredo was founded by the Spaniards as part of their New Spain. It was named after Laredo, Spain and was developed as a ferry crossing. The Spanish continued control of Texas at this time until Mexico gained independence from Spain and Laredo became part of the Mexican Empire. Having both of these backgrounds made Laredo flourish with Hispanic culture as the population grew. Eventually, Texas, along with Laredo, would become part of the United States. But that doesn’t mean that all the Spanish and Mexican locals just went away. While some left, going back across the new border to Mexico, many stayed. Today, almost all of the population of Laredo is of Hispanic descent. 

Hispanic Culture in Laredo, Texas Today

Located on the U.S.-Mexico border, Laredo has the highest Hispanic population in all of Texas. Laredo, Texas is a majority-hispanic city with 95.6% of the population being Hispanic or Latino (of any race). Broken down, this includes Mexican (86.9%), Puerto Rican (0.4%), Cuban (0.1%), and other Hispanic or Latino (8.3%). Also due to its close proximity to Mexico, and it’s past history as a part of Mexico, Laredo today still keeps its historic culture close to their way of life. Spanish and Mexican influences can still be seen today in their food, festivals, and architecture. 

Hispanic Culture in Laredo Architecture

Laredo, Texas takes its architectural style from a combination of American, Mexican, and Spanish influences. The original adobe style buildings are still present in modern-day Laredo. Downtown you can find most of the Spanish Colonial and American-style architecture. Looking for some more history? Buildings dating back to the 1870s can be seen in Barrio Azteca Historic District, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Laredo. Nearly every type of architecture that has ever been constructed in Laredo can still be seen there today.

Hispanic Culture in Laredo Food & Festivities

Being located in Texas, Laredo obviously is home to some good Tex-Mex cuisine. However, being in Southern Texas and right on the border with Mexico gives Laredo a little extra boost of authenticity. Meals in Laredo, Texas offer the best of both authentic Mexican and American choices. 

While you’re grabbing a bite to eat, check out the unique shops in Laredo to bring some Hispanic culture home with you. Historic San Bernardo Avenue holds over 40 blocks of shops and vendors selling an array of imported Mexican goods. Furniture, jewelry, anything you can think of, you can find in this strip. 

Laredo, Texas is also home to many annual events and festivals that celebrate the history and culture of the city. In fact, one of the largest celebrations in the U.S. is celebrated in Laredo. This festival is the month-long celebration of George Washington’s birthday that first started in 1898. During this time in February, there are parades, air shows, an ongoing carnival, and, of course, fireworks. 

There are also other festivities celebrated during Washington’s Birthday Celebration. These are the jalapeño festival and the International Bridge Ceremony, or Abrazo Ceremony. The Abrazo Ceremony represents the uniting of the U.S. and Mexico through two of their cities, Laredo, Texas, and Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. The ceremony takes two people from each city to meet at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge to abrazar (Spanish for embrace). In this beautiful act, the two cities, and countries, unite and show their love for one another. As one local put it, “those who live on either side of the border understand that they are more than partners and friends; they are family” (LMTonline.com / Laredo Morning Times).

Hispanic Culture-Rich Places to Visit With Kids

Whether you’re a teacher, homeschool parent, or family, Laredo, Texas has plenty to offer when it comes to exploring Hispanic culture with children. The Republic of Rio Grande Museum provides a look into Laredo’s past during its brief time as an independent nation and what life was like at the time. The building is also a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark as it was previously the republic’s capitol building.

As previously mentioned, to see some of the oldest architecture in Laredo, be sure to visit the Barrio Azteca Historic District. As you walk down the streets, notice the differences in some of the buildings, representing the many archeological styles of the area throughout history.

To really get a taste of the Hispanic culture in Laredo, be sure to visit during one of their annual festivals. One of which, is the month-long celebration of George Washington’s birthday in January and February. During this festival, you can experience festivities such as the jalapeño festival and the Abrazo Ceremony.

Want to quiz your kids or students on the Hispanic culture facts of Laredo, Texas that we talked about today? Enter your email address in this form to have a free printout sent right to your inbox! Download it here.

Come back next month for our next exploration through America! And if you haven’t already, make sure to go back and read Part 1 on New Mexico. In the meantime, make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for even more language fun and facts!

Reading Time: 6 minutes

Have you ever wondered how New Mexico got its name? If you’re thinking like most of us, “after Mexico, of course,” you’d be wrong. How can that be? For one reason, New Mexico was named New Mexico before Mexico was named Mexico! So, what’s the real reason behind the name? In just a bit, we’ll explain that, along with other intriguing facts about New Mexico’s unique past that make it so abundant in Hispanic culture.

What’s fantastic is that you don’t always have to travel across international borders to gain insight into Hispanic culture and history, which is as rich as it is diverse. You can explore it right here in the U.S!

In Part 1 of this series, we’re exploring New Mexico. Long before New Mexico was one of the United States of America, it was populated by explorers from Spain (“Spaniards”) who colonized the region and other areas of North America, bringing the Spanish language to the North American continent. This dialect of Spanish from Spain is referred to as Castilian Spanish.

These Spanish origins can still be seen in New Mexico to this day through architecture, food, and historical sites and are a great way to experience Hispanic culture with your kids and students. But that’s not all the change that New Mexico went through to become the culturally rich state it is now. Read on to learn a bit of how New Mexico came to be New Mexico, how the influences of its multiple owners remain throughout its modern-day culture, and how to experience Hispanic culture in New Mexico today.

Spanish Origins in New Mexico Culture

We mentioned above that New Mexico wasn’t named after Mexico. So, where did its name come from? Well, conquerors from Spain arrived early on and claimed lands, including what is now known as New Mexico. So, then why didn’t the Spaniards call these lands “New Spain”? After all, naming lands after a conqueror’s homeland was a common practice. Can you guess why?

The fact is, when the Spanish colonists came to settle in New Mexico, they originally named it Nuevo México (Spanish for New Mexico) after the Aztec Valley of Mexico – not the country of Mexico. But, it couldn’t have been named after the country of Mexico at all. This is because it was actually named before the country of Mexico got its name. At that time, the Spaniards had a different name for Mexico, Virreinato de Nueva España (Spanish for the Viceroyalty of New Spain)! So, the Spaniards couldn’t name New Mexico “New Spain” because current-day Mexico was already named that. Conquered in 1521, New Spain was vast, including modern-day Mexico plus parts of the southwest, northern parts of South America, and even the Philippines and Guam. 

Not surprisingly, the original inhabitants of New Spain grew tired of Spanish rule and fought for independence. In 1821, their independence was granted, and New Mexico became part of the Republic of Mexico.

So, first, New Mexico was colonized by the Spaniards, then it became part of the Republic of Mexico; When and how did it end up a part of the U.S. as it is today?

New Mexico Becomes a Part of the U.S.

Because of the United States’ desire to acquire Texas and expand westward through the continent, then-President Polk attempted to purchase part of Mexico’s territory, including New Mexico. When Mexico refused, the United States decided to take it for themselves anyway; and, thus, the Mexican-American War began. 

One major U.S.-Mexico trade route was the Santa Fe Trail, which played a significant role in the war. This trail went through multiple states and ended in New Mexico’s Santa Fe capital. Through the trail, U.S. troops entered Santa Fe and were able to capture New Mexico. Not long after the capture of New Mexico, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, ending the war and relinquishing parts of modern-day Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, and Texas to the United States. New Mexico was now an official territory of the United States. It would remain a territory for more than sixty years until it finally became the 47th state of the United States.

Though part of the United States, Spanish and Mexican culture remained. When the Spanish settlers originally arrived, they had increased the population rapidly. Even after New Mexico cut ties with Spain and later became part of the United States, much of the Spanish population stayed. Today, New Mexico has the highest percentage of Hispanic ancestry of all the states. The most prominent ancestries for New Mexico in 2000 were Mexican, American Indian, German, Hispanic, and Spanish; 16.3% being of Mexican ancestry, and 9.3% of Spanish ancestry. Over a quarter of New Mexicans speak Spanish at home.

Hispanic Culture in New Mexico Today

New Mexico’s culture remains rich with Mexican and Spanish influences still to this day. It can be seen in their architecture, it can be tasted in the food they cook, and it can be heard in the way they speak and the music they play. The New Mexico Spanish dialect, spoken mainly in northern New Mexico, has many facets of the cultures that lived there before. Their vocabulary takes from the 16th- and 17th-century Spanish dialect of the Spanish settlers, the Pueblo languages, and the language of the Aztecs of Mexico. In particular, an ethnic group in New Mexico called the Hispanos of New Mexico speaks this dialect. The Hispanos of New Mexico are direct descendants of the Spanish settlers of Santa Fe and make up a community of over 340,000 people.

Hispanic Culture in New Mexican Architecture

Architecture in New Mexico also shows influences of its Pueblo, Spanish, and Mexican origins. Architects in New Mexico used primarily adobe brick to build their infrastructure. Adobe brick is a strong and durable material made from a mixture of wet mud, clay, and straw that is left out in the sun to dry. When the Spaniards came, they added their own touch to the Pueblo-style adobe homes, such as heavy wooden doors, round walls, covered patios, and vertical posts.

Hispanic Culture in New Mexican Food

New Mexican cuisine combines Native American and Spanish techniques to create their own traditional dishes, like their stacked red chile enchiladas.

Red chile is a staple ingredient in New Mexico. They have their own New Mexico chile, grown there by Pueblo and Hispano communities for centuries. With the Spanish settlements came the growth of even more chile throughout the state. Thus, red chile enchiladas are a traditional meal in New Mexico. They even have a unique way of making them – stacked instead of rolled. Try them at an authentic New Mexican restaurant or make them at home with this delicious recipe.

Hispanic Culture in New Mexican Music

Like their language dialect and food dishes, New Mexican music is also a beautiful combination of Mexican and Spanish cultures. The Europeans introduced the Spanish guitar, and Mexican culture introduced Mariachi music, which is still prominent in New Mexico today. If you would like to teach your kids and students New Mexico’s state song, you can find it here to sing along!

Hispanic Culture-Rich Places to Visit With Kids

Whether you’re a teacher, homeschool parent, or family, New Mexico has plenty to offer when it comes to exploring Hispanic culture with children.  The New Mexico Historic Sites website has a School Resources page to help quickly and easily plan your trip. They also offer a virtual classroom as well as a virtual summer camp to “explore the culture, nature, and history of New Mexico guided by [their] eight historic sites.”

Also, check out this list of homeschool field trips destinations in New Mexico which lists many fun and educational activities to help teach kids more about New Mexico’s Hispanic culture.

Want to quiz your kids or students on the New Mexican Hispanic culture facts we talked about today? Enter your email address here to have a free printout sent right to your inbox! 

Our next trip to Laredo, Texas is already up, so make sure to check it out for more Hispanic culture in America!