A subculture can be any small group outside of the central or key majority group. Groups can range from an organized crime group, to an Asian American group, to a religious group, and even a hippie community. The main focus of this unit is immigrant subcultures. The immigrant subculture that is becoming more common in the United States every day is that of Mexican Americans. Mexican Americans have many religious traditions, ceremonies, customs, as well as forms of art and music. There are also various cultural traditions. Mexican Americans have their own identity, on the contrary, they still have distinct American characteristics. First, an aspect that is both Mexican and American is the cuisine. The original food of Mexico is very spicy and most of the time very colorful. Mexicans use spices, peppers, tomatoes and cheese in many native dishes. They use an assortment of meats: pork, beef, lamb and chicken. When Mexican restaurants appear in the United States, the food is toned down to appeal to Americans. Mexican Americans use fewer spices to make dishes milder than hot and spicy native food. The food, always Mexican, takes on the appearance of American cuisine. In the United States, this is what all American Mexican restaurants like Taco Bell demonstrate. Mexicans therefore Americanized their food. “Because Hispanics live on this side of the border, where Kraft makes Mexican Velveeta and Jack in the Box serves Fajita Pita.” (Rodriguez 131). Americans complement Mexican style and vice versa. Second, another area heavily influenced by American society is the religion of Mexican Americans. Ninety percent of Spanish speakers are Catholic (C...... middle of paper ...... stands out while blending seamlessly into the melting pot of cultures in the United States. Works Cited Clutter, Ann W. and Ruben D. Nieto. “Understanding Hispanic Culture.” Ohio State University Web, November 20, 2011. Crouch, Ned. Web. Mexican.” Web November 23, 2011. Nakate, Shashank “Mexican Customs and Traditions.” losing a culture." By Writing on the River 2nd ed. from Chattanooga State Community College Boston: McGraw Hill, 2009. 129-131.Print..