Mariachi is a vibrant style of Mexican folk music performed by groups of musicians wearing distinctive outfits and playing a specific combination of instruments. A mariachi band typically includes violins, trumpets, a large deep-voiced guitar called a guitarrón, a smaller high-pitched guitar called a vihuela, and regular guitars. The musicians often wear elegant suits called trajes de charro, decorated with silver buttons and embroidery.

Mariachi music originated in western Mexico in the 1700s and became the country's most recognizable musical tradition. The songs range from joyful celebrations to heartfelt ballads about love, family, and Mexican heritage. You might hear mariachi bands at weddings, birthday parties, festivals, or restaurants. In Mexico, families sometimes hire mariachi musicians to serenade someone special on their birthday or anniversary.

The word can refer to both the music itself and the musicians who perform it. When someone says “I hired a mariachi band for the party,” they mean a group of mariachi musicians. The music spread throughout Mexico and into the southwestern United States, where it remains popular today. In 2011, UNESCO recognized mariachi as an important part of world cultural heritage, celebrating how these musicians keep centuries of tradition alive through their energetic performances.