Birthdays are special occasions in many cultures throughout the world, and Mexico is no exception. While Mexican birthdays typically include parties, sweets, and presents—as in the United States and other countries—their celebrations are also unique in several ways.

For instance, Mexico has its own traditional birthday song called “Las Mañanitas," which means “birthday serenade.” A serenade is a song performed by a group of people, usually outside, and usually directed at one specific person. On her birthday, a young girl is likely to be awakened by family and friends singing outside her window.

Another unique Mexican birthday tradition is the piñata. A piñata is a colorful container made of paper or pottery that is filled with candy and small toys. Piñatas often take the form of animals, especially llamas or donkeys. The piñata is hung from a tree branch or rafter, and then blind-folded guests try to break it open with a stick, which causes the sweets inside to scatter on the ground.

Mexican families often play games together on birthdays. They also typically serve a meal, followed by a special birthday cake called tres leches, which means “three milks.” Other features of birthday parties in Mexico include music and dancing. And no birthday celebration would be complete without gifts, which in Mexico, typically come from the birthday child’s parents rather than from friends. As you can see, Mexico, like other places around the world, enjoys both common and unique traditions, all of them meant to make birthdays a very special occasion.