【Mexican national flower_cactus】
Mexico is the country with the largest variety of cacti, known as the "Kingdom of Cacti", and cacti have an important social and religious status in Mexico's history.
Cactus is a genus of succulents in the cactus family, the cactus family.
Cacti are native to North America. There are about 2,000 species of plants in the cactus family worldwide, and Mexico has more than 1,000 species, of which more than 200 species are endemic to Mexico. Therefore, Mexico is worthy of the reputation of "the land of cacti", and the cactus has always been a symbol of Mexicans.
The Indians in North America began eating cacti very early. Legend has it that the cactus is the highest reward bestowed on Mexicans by the gods. According to legend, in the 14th century, the Astic people of Mexico, following the instructions of the tribal gods, went to find a "place where an eagle stands on a cactus and tears a snake in its mouth." Led by the priests, they saw the sight indicated by the tribal gods and decided to settle down and build a new home on this rich land, which is today Mexico City, the capital of Mexico. Today, the flag, coat of arms, and currency of Mexico are drawn on the basis of this mythical story: a sturdy majestic mill carrying a serpent stands on a sturdy cactus, symbolizing the indomitable Mexican people fighting valiantly to defend their national interests.
There is also a touching legend in Mexico: a long time ago, Mexico was invaded by aliens and a mother was brutally killed. The son, in order to avenge his mother, fought the invaders and was unfortunately captured. The intruder brutally gouged out his heart and slammed him to the ground. Surprisingly, a cactus grew where that heart was. Mexicans believe that the mother in this story is the symbol of the Mexican nation, and the cactus is the symbol of the unyielding Mexican people.
In Mexico, the footprints of cacti can be seen everywhere, whether in the barren mountains or in the hot and arid desert, cacti stand like giants on the earth. In Lower California, Mexico, there is a large cactus that is 17.6m tall and weighs 10t.
Cacti have an important social and religious status in Mexico's history. Some cacti are worshipped as gods, and some cacti are regarded as "sacred trees" to ward off evil.
Now, cacti have not only ornamental value, but also economic value and other uses. When people traveling in the desert were thirsty, they used knives to cut the cactus and dig out the juicy lotus flesh to quench their thirst. In rural Mexico, cacti are planted next to homes to form green fences that serve a variety of functions, one is to prevent livestock, beasts and gangsters from breaking into their homes. The second is to use tall cacti to shade the sun. Third, it can be used as food for the whole family. Welcoming Mexicans, when entertaining tourists, always add a unique cactus dish. For a long time, the local indigenous Indians ate cacti as a vegetable, and one professor even declared that "I would rather eat six cactus fruits for breakfast than the best steak." Mexicans peel its fruit, strain the seeds, uncover it, and cook it to make their favorite snack. Some cacti also have the functions of promoting qi and blood, clearing heat and detoxification, and can treat stomach pain, dysentery, sore throat, capital injury, snake wound, etc. In recent years, studies have found that cactus also has a diuretic effect, which is an ideal food for people with kidney disease and diabetes, and also has significant effects in the treatment of cancer.
Every year in mid-August, Mexicans hold a grand and solemn cactus festival in the Mirpa Alta region. The seat of the local government is lit up and surrounded by restaurants specializing in cactus food for sale. At the same time, various cactus foods such as preserves, jams, pastries, and cactus paint washers are also exhibited.
