Syncretism in the borderlands: An aquarium for El Paso, TX

Syncretism is defined as the blending and meshing of cultures and societies as they Interact. (Loewen 1995, p. l 04). As a result of this phenomenon, new cultural elements, customs, values, and histories are produced which can often change the course of cultures themselves. This phenomenon is readily apparent in and around border regions where different cultures often are in day-to-day direct contact with each other. As a result, a new separate or "border culture" is established that combines elements of each culture In a piecemeal fashion that eventually takes on a life and meaning of its own.