Culture refers to the unique features of a social group that make it to stand out. Cultural attributes that distinguish between different groups include language, art, religion, food, and music. Excellent examples that outline cultural similarities and differences are the Maltese and Mexican cultures. Maltese and Mexican cultures share a common religion, but differ in their use of official languages and choice of music.
The Mexican and Maltese cultures are predominantly Roman-Catholic. More than 90 % of the Maltese people profess Catholicism; in fact, Roman Catholicism is the state religion in Malta. Similarly, Roman Catholicism is the main religion in Mexico. However, unlike in Malta, Mexico does not have a state religion. Mexico and Malta have a history of Spanish occupation which explains the similar religious practice.
Spanish is the main language in Mexico which points out to the strong Spanish influence in Mexico. Currently, a huge number of the Mexicans speak Spanish although there are other indigenous languages recognized as official languages. On the contrary, Malti is the official language in Malta. It is the only Semitic language in Europe. The Semitic influence arises from the intermarriage of Jews, Phoenicians and slaves of African descent.
Maltese and Mexican culture also exhibit major differences in music. For example, in Malta, folklore music has a long tradition in the country. Folk songs play a crucial role in Maltese lives. The songs portray village life in Malta. On the contrary, Mexican music has a strong European Influence. This is evident from the Mexican pop and rock music; both genres borrow highly from the European music.
Understanding culture is vital as it gives an insight into people’s behavior and the society. Different social groups, from various parts of the world, exhibit distinct cultural characteristics. However, immigration of people from one part of the world to another results into shared cultural traits. Sociology aims to understand how people different areas behave which makes the study of culture an invaluable asset in sociology.
References
Massey, B. (2006). Where in the World Do I Belong. New York, NY: Jetlag press.
