What do Mexicans do at Mexican birthday parties?

Answer 1

In Mexico, kids love to have pinata's at their birthday. A pinata is usually made out of paper mache (usually in the form of an animal or object), is filled with goodies and hung from the ceiling or a tree branch. The birthday child is blindfolded and hits the pinata until it is cracked open and all the goodies fall out. All the children then get to share the goodies.Also, when a daughter reaches her 15th birthday (which is called a "quinceanera"), the birthday is celebrated with a special mass in her honor. This celebration often includes a religious ceremony at church, in which the young lady recognizes her heritage and her spiritual journey. A party is then given to introduce her to everyone as a young woman, and the father may dance a waltz with her. In some Latin American countries, a young woman changes her shoes from flats to heels during the ceremony (this is symbolic-it shows that she has moved on to a higher level of responsibility).In Mexico there are two celebrations you have for your birthday. The first one is for your name or saint's day, which on this day you attend church and a priest blesses you. Then you go home to have a party that includes relatives and close family friends. The saint's day party is much quieter and more formal.

Las Mañanitas is a traditional Mexican song that is sung on birthdays and other important holidays. It is often sung as an early morning serenade to wake up a loved one. At birthday parties it is sung before the cake is cut.

As a traditional song with a long history, there are variations of Las Mañanitas, with many different verses. At most Mexican parties only the first two verses are sung, but I have included some additional verses that are occasionally sung, particularly when it's sung by mariachis or in a formal setting.

Las Mañanitas Lyrics:

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.

Translation:

This is the morning song that King David sang

Because today is your saint's day we're 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 lovely 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 in the morning, look it is already dawn

Additional verses:

El día en que tu naciste nacieron todas las flores

En la pila del bautismo, cantaron los ruiseñores

The day you were born all the flowers were born

On the baptismal font the nightingales sang

Quisiera ser solecito para entrar por tu ventana

y darte los buenos días acostadita en tu cama

I would like to be the sunshine to enter through your window

to wish you good morning while you're lying in your bed

Quisiera ser un San Juan, quisiera ser un San Pedro

Para venirte a cantar con la música del cielo

I would like to be a Saint John I would like to be a Saint Peter

To sing to you with the music of heaven

De las estrellas del cielo tengo que bajarte dos

una para saludarte y otra para decirte adiós

Of the stars in the sky I have to lower two for you

One with which to greet you and the other to wish you goodbye

- This information was pulled from the internet.

http://gomexico.about.com/od/historyculture/qt/mananitas.htm

http://www.coolest-kid-birthday-parties.com/birthday-traditions.HTML

- I hope I have been of some assistance.

Answer 2

It depends on the age of the person who is celebrating his/her birthday:

For children's parties, most families hire clowns and inflatable games, offering snacks and non-Alcoholic Beverages to the party-goers. Most parties end up with a cake or breaking a piñata.

For teenager or adult parties, it is more common to have alcoholic drinks, loud music and dancing, like any other grown-up party.