Six things you need to know about Mexico

Business tips – Hierarchical relationships are greatly respected in Mexico, both in business and society. Rank is important and in meetings it is vital to know exactly who is in charge and who makes the key decisions. Personal connections are at the heart of most business dealings, so it is advisable to take the time to cultivate strong, long-term relationships. Having one side of your business card in Spanish is also recommended.
Lunch is taken around 2pm, and time is regarded a flexible commodity. If invited to a Mexican’s house, do bring a gift such as flowers or candy, but do not give marigolds, which symbolize death, or red flowers, as they have a negative connotation. However, white flowers are considered uplifting. Also, be aware people from the U.S. are ‘North Americans’ rather than ‘Americans’; Mexicans are also ‘Americans’. Avoid using the OK hand gesture; it is considered vulgar.

May 5 – Cinco de Mayo is widely celebrated across the U.S., though not so much south of the border, and has become an expression of Mexican-American relations. The celebrations mark the victory in 1862 of a Mexican militia over French invaders at the Battle of Puebla.

Shared heritage – In the 2010 U.S. Census, almost 32 million Americans registered Mexican heritage. Mexican-Americans represented 63% of the Hispanic population in the U.S., and experienced the largest numeric growth from 2000 to 2010 of any Hispanic group. Two-thirds of Mexican-Americans live in California, Texas and Arizona.

Say what? – More than 60 indigenous languages are still spoken across Mexico, and speakers have official rights to government services in their own language. The two most common still spoken as first languages are Nahuatl (the language of the ancient Aztec empire) and Mayan (the language of the ancient Mayan civilization.)

Independence – On September 16, 1810, a priest named Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla urged his fellow Mexicans to take up arms against the Spanish government, launching a decade-long struggle that ended 300 years of colonial rule, and its anniversary is now celebrated as the nation’s birthday.

EARTHSCRAPER – To preserve the capital’s skyline and the historic value of its architecture, strict regulations set a maximum height for new buildings in certain areas of Mexico City at eight storeys. As demand for space is rising, a group of Mexican architects has designed a 65-storey inverted skyscraper for the middle of Mexico City’s main square, Zocalo. If built, the upside-down glass and steel pyramid, called Earthscraper, would plunge almost 1,000ft into the ground.