Okay…how many of you out there have been ‘mordida-ed’ by Ana? We’ve all had our share as any of you who have looked at the program pictures know. I’m sure there are participants who have come on our program and NOT let us know it was their birthday.
Well…we now have a movie of Ana’s birthday that will surprise and delight you. And the nice part about it, it made Ana laugh harder than anyone else. She just loved it. There are those of us who were just made for the Mexican way of life…mordida, confetti, piñatas and all!
Just to give it to you briefly, however: At birthday celebrations, once assembled guests finish singing the lovely words of the traditional song, "Las Mananitas"…
Estas son Las manañitas
(These are the morning songs)
que cantaba el Rey David.
(that King David sang.)
Hoy por ser día de tu santo
(For today to be the day of your saint)
te las cantamos así.
(we sing to you like this.)
Despierta, mi bien, despierta!
(Wake up, my dear. Wake up!)
Mira que ya amaneció.
(See that it is already dawn...)
Qué linda está la mañana en que vengo a saludarte...
(How beautiful is the morning in which I come to greet you...)
…and the candles have been extinguished, the guests begin chanting "Mordida, Mordida, Mordida!" (Little bite, little bite, little bite!)
For NOBs (north of the border), unused to Mexican tradition, it's the unexpected "face in the cake" moment. The guest of honor is obliged to take the first bite of cake without using utensils or their hands---just leaning down to take a bite out of the cake. Then, usually, strategically positioned behind the honoree is someone else ready to slam their face into the cake when they lean down. It also usually means that is how big of a piece of cake you get to eat too...that part seems obvious to me! No, thank you...no face cake for me please!
Those of you who have experienced this wonderful event, please feel free to add your comment to this blog. I’m sure Ana will be happy to hear from you.
And, even if you haven’t, feel free to add a birthday wish or two for her. I’m sure she would love to hear from you.