People who go through the typical U.S. education are pretty confused about Hispanic culture. Our schools teach some things that don’t really exist or don’t matter. The result is that people tend to think of foreign culture in terms of holidays, and in ways that aren’t accurate. I’m happy to give examples at this time of year.

1. Spanish classes teach that Las Posadas are a central religious Christmas tradition in Mexico. But people in Mexico will tell you that the tradition is no longer widely observed in the way our schools tend to teach. In fact, I just listened to two well-educated men in Mexico say: “Las posadas ya no son nada.” (Las Posadas are nothing anymore.) They were referring to the way the tradition has turned increasingly into parties and dancing. It’s not that nobody observes the tradition in its religious form, but its meaning continues to disappear from Mexico’s cultural landscape. Schools just need to keep things in perspective and up to date when they teach about holidays.

2. Día de los Muertos is another Mexican tradition that our schools teach as the BIG deal in Hispanic culture. In most places in Mexico, the holiday is still celebrated, but in different ways and with different theologies. On the other hand, almost all Mexicans who come here leave the holiday behind, except as a memory. It is pretty doggone hard to find many immigrants who still celebrate it the way our schools describe and reenact it. Whether I check in with Hispanic bakeries, party supply stores, or individuals as I travel around the U.S., I get this answer: “Really, I don’t know of anyone who is actually celebrating the holiday anymore.” This doesn’t mean schools are wrong to teach about it, but they should stay up to date on it. For instance, there are very interesting reasons why most Mexican immigrants do not continue the tradition, and these are sometimes the same reasons why many people in urban centers in Mexico have a difficult time continuing the tradition.

3. I’ve said it before, and so have Mexicans: Hardly anyone in Mexico celebrates or cares about Cinco de Mayo. Yet our schools continue teaching it as a point of cultural contact with our neighbor to the south. Cinco de Mayo is not a Mexican national holiday. Somehow it has stuck like glue to the curriculum, whether in regular schools or homes.

There are many other Hispanic countries and customs to talk about. Max and Max Spanish lessons give kids all kinds of insights into daily life. Holidays, whether accurately portrayed or not, are a relatively small piece of culture. Students like to learn about the several hundred other days of the year too.