What is the history behind the Mexican hat dance?

The Mexican hat dance is a dance that was created around 1920 as a symbol of national unity. The demanding dance is performed to a medley of tunes known as Jarabe, which means sweet syrup.

Jarabe comes from the Arabian word Xarab, meaning a mixture of herbs. The dance is referred to as a Jarabe because it is often viewed as a courtship between two people. It's a mixture of multiple ingredients as well as a mixture of local songs. The Mexican hat dance was so popular in Mexico at one time that it was often referred to as the national folk dance of Mexico.