AUDAZ REVISTA
Las mañanitas
The Mexican birthday song, and how the Spanish-speaking world says happy birthday.
01 / 09
Mañanitas
Little mornings. The song is usually sung early in the morning to wake the birthday person.
It's also sung at the party, usually just before the cake is cut.
02 / 09
El rey David
The opening line: these are the little morning songs that King David used to sing.
Estas son las mañanitas que cantaba el rey David.
03 / 09
Despierta
Wake up. The day has come, the little birds are singing and the moon has gone down.
At home, people often swap mi bien (my dear) for the person's name.
04 / 09
¿Quién la escribió?
Nobody knows for sure. Sources name Alejandro Manzo Salceda, or Manuel M. Ponce and Alfonso Esparza Oteo.
Who wrote it?
05 / 09
¡Mordida!
Mexico. Guests chant bite! until the birthday person bites the cake.
Whoever stands closest often pushes their face into it.
06 / 09
Las orejas
Spain and Argentina. Friends pull your ears, once for each year.
In Chile, 4 people lift you once for every year instead.
07 / 09
Ay, qué noche tan preciosa
Venezuela's own birthday song, written by Luis Cruz in 1953.
Families often sing it before or after Cumpleaños feliz.
08 / 09
El santo
Your saint's day: the feast of the saint you were named after.
The most popular version of the song is for your saint's day.
09 / 09
¿Cuántos años cumples?
How old are you turning? Cumplir means to turn an age.
Make your wish in silence, then blow out every candle in one breath.
Tap for the full story of the song, country by country.