Mariachi is a traditional Mexican musical ensemble and the song genre associated with it, one of the most vivid symbols of Mexico in the world. A typical mariachi lineup includes violins, trumpets, classical guitars, as well as the large bass guitarrón and the small five-stringed vihuela.
Mariachi musicians perform in the lavish charro costume — the attire of Mexican horsemen, adorned with silver — and sing songs about love, the homeland, heroism, and everyday life. They are invited to weddings, birthdays, serenades, and national holidays. The mariachi sound is festive, ardent, and at the same time moving. In 2011 the mariachi tradition was inscribed on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage as a living embodiment of the Mexican national soul.
