TAMAULIPAS CULTURE: TRADITIONS, MUSIC AND CHARACTERISTICS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The culture of Tamaulipas, state of Mexico, is characterized by having a variety of traditional musical, artistic, festive and gastronomic expressions, derived from its historical process of social formation.

These cultural expressions, which are the result of the Creole and mestizo cultural mix, are appreciated by the four cardinal points of the state, with clear and very characteristic distinctive features.

For example, a very particular characteristic is the way of dressing of the Tamaulipas, with the leather as the most emblematic dress. Her way of speaking also stands out.

It is possible to observe the cultural miscegenation of this region in its various galleries and museums, which show the pictorial and plastic work of its regional artists.

In the same way, their dances and music exhibit a marked influence of northern and European dances and rhythms, such as the polka and the redova, the pillory and the huapango.

You may also be interested in the typical traditions of Tamaulipas.

Traditions

The Tamaulipas culture has a great musical and dance tradition, which comes from the joyful spirit of its inhabitants.

The people of Tamaulipas are deeply religious. For this reason, throughout the year religious festivals and popular festivals are celebrated in honor of their patron saints. Various shows with traditional games and exhibitions are also organized.

It also has a gastronomy rich in typical foods based on plant and animal products of the land and marine fauna of the region, which are prepared following exclusive traditional recipes.

Music and dance

The music and dances of Tamaulipas vary according to the region of the state. There are four established cultural regions: northern region, central region, southwest region, and southern coast or Huasteca region.

In the northern region, traditional rhythms of European origin such as the polka, the chotis and the redova predominate, which came to this territory in the 19th century and were assimilated and incorporated into the local culture.

Nowadays, new rhythms have emerged derived from the fusion of norteño music with other genres such as cumbia, post-revolutionary corrido and band music. This musical movement is known as grupera music.

In the central region of Tamaulipas the traditional music is the pillory, which is accompanied by dances to the rhythm of instruments such as the tambora and the clarinet.

In the southwestern region, a semi-desert area that served as the seat of the first Catholic missions that arrived in the state, the religious dances called "standing and horseback" are preserved, as well as the processional dances organized by the community.

Huapango is traditional in the Huasteca region. This musical genre is performed by troubadours with one or two guitars, the harp and a violin. It is danced by tapping with quick steps on a wooden platform.

Art

Tamaulipas is a state with a great artistic and artisan tradition. In its museums, galleries and shops popular art of local plastic is exhibited.

In this state you can see manners and contemporary painting, sculptures and fine craftsmanship with exquisitely decorated, burnished or smoothed ceramic pieces.

They also make artisan vessels, tule and lechuguilla fabrics, maguey fabrics, sotol and somate ixtle fabrics, tule and rosita fabrics.

Part of the artistic movement of the state is also made up of pieces of fine saddlery, clay and glass pottery, wooden toys, typical dresses, decorated seashells and snails, among other manifestations.

Costume

The typical garment of Taulipas is leather. This costume has its origins in the dairy farms, where it was used to protect against the weather and thorny branches. It is used by men and women alike.

It is a handmade and sewn calf leather or deer suede suit with lined buttons or carved bone.

The most common designs contain floral designs, interspersed frets and many other geometric shapes.

In parades and cultural events it is used by musicians, singers and dancers in the performance of folk dances.

It is common to see this type of clothing in cities such as Tampico, Ocampo, Ciudad Victoria, Reynosa, Matamoros and Nuevo Laredo.

Gastronomy

The cuisine of Tamaulipas is very varied and is based on agricultural or seafood products.

It includes an abundant list of beef and goat dishes, such as barbecues, cortadillo de res, cabrito enchilado, pork tamales with chilpán, and roast pork and mole.

Also noteworthy are chochas, charro beans, stuffed crabs, nopalitos, oven gorditas, discada, atoles of tile corn and maguey honey and sweet tamales with champurrado.

Other important dishes are prawns in broth or butter, crushed with egg or in caldillo and shrimp huatape.

As for its typical sweets, the traditional Tula nougat, the wrapped child, the chichimbré, the pumpkin in a brown sugar patch and the ponteduro made with corn and brown sugar, among others, stand out.

Festivities and events

Tamaulipas Fair

This fair takes place between the months of October and November, and consists of a series of dances, concerts, popular theater, wrestling fights, rodeo, palenque and attractions for children.

Tamaulipas International Festival

Also in the month of October the Tamaulipas International Festival is celebrated, which has had the participation of national and international artists.

Its name was changed to Tamaulipeca Identity Festival (FIT) in order to further promote regional culture.

Carnival

This celebration is organized in the Port of Tampico forty days before the celebration of Holy Week.

Religious holidays

• Candlemas Day (February)
• Santoral de San José (March)
• Holy Cross Day (May)
• Feast of San Isidro Labrador (May)
• Feast of Saint Anthony of Padua (June)
• Day of the Virgin of San Juan (July)
• The sweet names of Jesus
• Festivities of the Virgen del Carmen
• Our Lady of the Snows (August)
• Saint Francis of Assisi, the Virgin of the Rosary and Saint Jude Thaddeus (October)
• Virgin of the Immaculate Conception, Virgin of Guadalupe and Christmas night (December)

References

1. Traditions and customs. Retrieved on November 6, 2017 from tamaulipas.gob.mx
2. Tamaulipas Fair. Consulted of feria.tam.gob.mx
3. Rivero Torres, José Manuel (2008) Tamaulipas, environment, history and customs. Government of the State of Tamaulipas, Mexico. Recovered from tamaulipas.gob.mx
4. The popular art of the states of the Mexican Republic: Tamaulipas. Consulted of amigosmap.org.mx
5. The gastronomy of Tamaulipas. Consulted of amigosmap.org.mx
6. Ramos Aguirre, Francisco (2010): Gastronomy. Tamaulipas, knowledge and flavors. Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas. Recovered from tamaulipas.gob.mx