Arab Influence in Mexico?

Question

Which cities/towns in Mexico have a strong Arab influence?

Answer 1

Well Isaac and Don Colibri have good answers, the truthh is that "Libanese" is also a common way to call people regardless to where in the middle east this inmigrants came from except for jews. They are common to be found among the middle class and rich people in all Mexico, but is more common in the south or the center and the north east, if you go north west you will find less influence but still a lot of people with names that comes from the middle east...

In My opinion Cities with strong influence are Puebla, Monterrey, Merida, south west of Mexico city for Maronites and west of Mexico city for Jews.

And the story repeats all over Latin America

Shakira, Salma Hayec, Carlos Slim, among others are descendants from Middle Eastern people.

Answer 2

Despite what others have said, Puebla is one of the cities with the greatest Arab influences, (mostly Lebanese and Syrian) and all three of the religions of the area are represented, Christian, Muslim and Jewish. The "tacos arabes" ("arab tacos" - sort of a cross between Mexican "tacos al pastor" and "souflaki") which you can readily find there are "to die for." (try "Tonys" near to the center of town.......)

Answer 3

Middle Eastern inmigrants came to Mexico during the past century.

They came from Lebanon, Syria, Irak and Former Palestine and settled on the biggest cities of the country. Most of the middle eastern inmigrants were Maronites (Christians), so they quickly adapted to the Christian "environment" in Mexico. Although they create their own social clubs (Lebanese or Palestinean Social Clubs across the nation are still open these days), the community is fully integrated with the Mexicans, speaks spanish, follow the mexican traditions and actually identify themselves as Mexicans. As a result of the integration a high rate of mixed marriage (maronite middle eastern-mexican) were observed since the beginning. Maronite Middle Eastern inmigrants are now a succesfull and buoyant community in the country, toghether with the descendants of the Spaniards and other Eastern European (mainly Jewish) inmigrants.

One of these success stories is represented by Mr Slim, which is the 2nd richest men in the world (according to Forbes), he is Mexican but with Lebanese heritage.

Islamic Middle Eastern inmigrants (arabic and from other countries) are not so common as their maronites counterparts, but they are settled also in biggest cities such as Mex City, Monterrey and representative communities settled in Torreon and in the state of Chiapas. Because this community is not as long as the Maronite, they are less integrated and has less influence in the countrys life.

In Mexico is common to say Arab or Turk to both Maronites and Islamic descendants because of their look, and often because they spoke the same lenguage (arabic), and the traditional dishes / food are also similar. Many mexicans didnt realize that the main difference is focused on religion.

The main influence of these groups in the country is focused just in the social composition of the Mexican population. Middle Eastern influence in fine arts and other aspects of the mexican life are also notorious but actually they are recognized (in Mexico and internationally) as performed / done by Mexicans.

Middle Eastern (Maronites) represents now, one of the biggest communities that contributes to the Mexican "Mestizaje". First came the Spaniards and the Mestizaje starts in 1500 ad., but then came the middle eastern and the Jewish inmigrants.

Answer 4

Mexico city and Torreon coahuila have a large Lebanese comunities, there are also Arab communities in Veracruz state and in Chiapas.

Answer 5

So far, good answers, that's good and unusual. I can only add that the northeast of the country (Tamaulipas) seems to have some Arab influence too (there's even a small town close to the border called Bagdad).

Answer 6

The 2 biggest cities with Arab influence in Mexico are:

- Mexico city

- Monterrey