How To Throw a Traditional Mexican Birthday Party

Mexico loves its holidays, festivals and fiestas. But nothing can compare to the celebration of one’s birthday.

If you are invited to a traditional Mexican birthday party, consider it an honor. As a guest, you’ll be treated like royalty.

But if you want to do the same for your friends and family, treat them like the kings and queens they are with a traditional Mexican birthday party.

Here are some ways to get the party started:

Traditional Mexican Birthday Greetings

“Feliz Cumpleanos” is the greeting shared with the birthday boy or girl. It literally means, “Happy Completed Years”. It’s a way of showing great respect for those who have reached maturity in age and experience.

What to Wear
While semi-casual clothing is appropriate for a Mexican birthday party, it’s not uncommon for the host and birthday boy or girl to wear colorful ethnic outfits. This is a day of celebration, so you can go as fancy or as laidback as you’d like.

A Mexican Birthday Must-Have: Music

A Mexican party is not a party at all without music to fill the house. Ranchera and Mariachi music styles are popular choices. But if your party is grand, you may want to hire a Mexican band to add an impressive dimension to the fiesta.

Deck the Halls with Traditional Mexican Decorations

One cannot host a Mexican birthday without the famous Piñata. In fact, this was a tradition started by the Mayans and Aztecs. The spilling of prizes represented God’s abundance. The tradition continues today as candy and token gifts pour from brightly colored papier-mâché Piñatas.

Once you’ve hung your piñata on the ceiling or from a tree or pole, sing this song as blindfolded participants take their turn breaking open the piñata with a large stick or bat.

English Translation

Hit it, hit it, hit it (or go, go, go)
Don’t lose your aim
Because if you lose it (your aim)
You will lose the path.
Hit it, hit it, hit it (or go, go, go)
Hit it, He didn’t hit it
Take away his token
Because it’s now my turn!
I’m next!

Another Mexican Birthday Must-Have: Food
Traditional dishes are prepared in anticipation for friends and family who travel from near and far. A feast with arroz con leche (Mexican rice pudding), taquitos (rolled tacos), sopapillas, chips and homemade salsa, churros and flan is typically prepared to honor the birthday person. And to toast, cold cervazas, margaritas and shots of tequila are clinked together with a hearty “salud” (meaning to your health).

Let Them Eat Mexican Cake

And what would a birthday party be without cake? Mexican birthday cakes are very similar to what you’d find in Canada or the U.S. Colorful, decorated and sugary, these treats are as appealing to the eye as they are to the taste buds.

Before the cake is cut, everyone gathers around, giggling with anticipation of what’s to follow. Cameras flash as a rousing chorus of “Las Mañanitas” (meaning “Little Mornings”) is sung.

Click to hear Las Mañanitas sung by actor/singer Javier Solís (1931-1966).

Spanish Version:
Estas son las mañanitas, que cantaba el Rey David,
Hoy por ser día de tu santo, te las cantamos a ti,
Despierta, mi bien, despierta, mira que ya amaneció,
Ya los pajarillos cantan, la luna ya se metió.
Que linda está la mañana en que vengo a saludarte,
Venimos todos con gusto y placer a felicitarte,
Ya viene amaneciendo, ya la luz del día nos dio,
Levántate de mañana, mira que ya amaneció.

English Translation:

This is the little morning song that King David sang
Lovely girls covered in frosting because today is your saint’s day and we are singing it for you
Wake up, my dear, wake up, look it is already dawn
the birds are already singing and the moon has set
How beautiful is the morning in which I come to greet you
We all came with joy and pleasure to congratulate you
The morning is coming now, the sun is giving us its light
Get up, it is morning, look it is already dawn.

Afterwards, guests begin to chant “Mor-di-ta, Mor-di-ta!” Translated into bribe, but for this case, “little bite,” the birthday person is expected to take the first bite without flatware or hands. Just to make sure the obligation is fulfilled, a mischievous friend or family member will push the birthday person’s face into the cake—or lift it up to achieve the same results. Cake on the face is all a part of the birthday fun.

Now It’s Your Turn

If you’re ready to shower a loved one with birthday wishes of love, hope, happiness and prosperity, then consider throwing them a traditional Mexican birthday party today.

And if you’re ready to make Mexico your home away from home, contact us for more information. We specialize in making your real estate investment dreams come true.