Modern M�xico

In 1929 former President General Plutarco El�as Calles created the National Revolutionary Party (PNR) which was restructured several times and became the Institutional Revolutionary Party in 1946. In 1938 the President of the Republic, General L�zaro C�rdenas restructured the party with the name Party of the Mexican Revolution (PRM) made up of four sections: workers, rural, popular and military. In 1946 the President Manuel Avila Camacho reorganised the party once again under the name of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), which excluded the military section.

Other relevant dates in contemporary history are the following:

In 1938 President L�zaro C�rdenas declared the expropriation of oil companies and concessions ceased.

In 1939 the National Action Party was created by Manuel Gom�z Mor�n, at the present time the main political parties represented at Congress are: Institutional Revolutionary Party; National Action Party; Peoples' Socialist Party; Mexican Democratic Party; Revolutionary Democratic Party; The Cardenista Front Party for National Reconstruction; Authentic Party of the Mexican Revolution; The Labour Party; the Green Ecologist Party of Mexico.

In 1942 M�xico entered the Second World War against Germany, Italy and Japan.

In 1945 M�xico signed the Charter of San Francisco, being one of the founding members of the United Nations Organisation. At the initiative of Mexico, the Treaty of Tlatelolco was signed in 1967, being the first treaty of its kind which prohibits nuclear weapons in a geographic region, in this case in Latin America.

In 1989, the Revolutionary Democratic Party (PRD) was formed.

Thanks to the political stability of the accelerated economic and social development which Mexico has experienced during the first half of the twentieth century, the country has gone from being at the turn of the century a principally agricultural economy to become the 13th most important economy in the world. Various recent changes in the economic policies have had a great impact in the process of modernisation of the national economy; in 1986 Mexico entered the GATT and in 1994 signed with the United States and Canada the North American Free Trade Agreement. The former has been accompanied by a wide program of structural reforms, privatisations and deregulations.

With Free Trade Agreements policies, Mexico is looking for modernisation, but at the same time wishes to preserve its cultural heritage. Today, many of the motifs and themes of the Mexican culture are simply modern interpretations of the ancient traditions. They are prized because of the feeling, and the soul that the Mexican artist puts into each piece his hands create. Traditional arts and crafts such as pottery, silverware, lacquers, woodcrafts and masks shown up roots that go back to Pre-Colombian times.

Arts and Traditions
Since the arrival of the Spaniards, Mexican artists tended to follow the lead from Europe. But that changed after the revolution of 1910: in the 1930's such well-known artist as Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orozco and others began to paint unique murals and other works that brought together the styles of the Old World and the ancient Mexican cultures.

Mexican music, like Mexican art, has a rich and varied history. No other country has such a diversity of traditional musical styles. Of all the music in M�xico, perhaps the most well-known is "mariachi.", originally form the state of Jalisco.

In the South of M�xico, the music centres around the "marimba". It calls to mind the balmy tropical weather of this region.

In the Northern and Central part of Mexico the Corridos are very typical, there are a kind of ballad that recounts stories and legends, originally from Spain, but their popularity quickly spread throughout M�xico.

In addition to its music, or perhaps to go along with it, M�xico has an incredible variety of traditional dances. In some, you'll hear carved drums and reed flutes that echo the timeless rhythm of rain dances to the god Tlaloc. Or dances to Huitzilopochtli, god of war. In others, you'll hear strains from the waltzes brought by the French and Spaniards. But in most cases the two have blended together in a vibrant style so unique that it is now M�xico's own. Some of the more popular are the "Viejitos" ("Dance of the Little Old Men") from Michoac�n. The "huapango", a dance from Veracruz, is performed on a wooden platform that acts as a sort of drum for the dancers' feet. And of course, there's the "Jarabe Tapatio", which is considered the national dance. You probably know it as the Mexican Hat Dance. The best time to see and hear Mexico's kaleidoscope of music and dance is at a fiesta. And it seems that almost any excuse is good enough to have a party.

In November, Mexicans celebrate the "Day of the Dead", a beautiful festivity especially in Janitzio, and around the country.

Every December, the traditional "posadas" are performed in cities and towns across the country. And at the beginning of Lent, Mexico's Carnival is celebrated principally in Veracruz and Mazatl�n.

Hundreds of native dancers and musicians perform their colourful ancient rituals each year at the "Guelaguetza" in Oaxaca. The Cervantes Festival in Guanajuato is another unforgettable experience, some of the finest singers, musical groups and actors of the world perform in the theatres and plazas of this magical city.