Piñatas, tres leches cake and lively music: activities inspired by Mexican birthday traditions

Each culture has its own fun birthday customs. Let’s learn how Mexico, a country on the other side of the world, celebrates birthdays.

No Mexican birthday party is complete without a piñata, which is made of colourful papier-mâché. Traditional piñatas are seven-pointed stars, but they come in many other shapes, too. The piñata is filled with sweets and toys. Everyone takes turns hitting it with a stick until it breaks and everyone can collect the treats.

A popular cake choice for birthdays is called tres leches, a name that refers to the three types of milk used to make it: whole milk, condensed milk, and evaporated milk. In Mexico, it is a tradition to push the birthday child’s face into the cake. This is believed to bring good luck for the year ahead.

Mexicans also sing “Las Mañanitas” on the morning of your birthday. Some parties even have a mariachi band, which is a group of musicians who play traditional Mexican music.

Mariachi bands play traditional Mexican music. Photo: Shutterstock

Make your own piñata

Materials:

• balloon

• newspaper

• flour

• water

• colourful crepe paper

• scissors

• glue

• string

• needle

• sweets and small toys for filling

• tape

Instructions:

1. Fill a balloon with sweets and toys. Blow it to the size you want your piñata to be before tying the end with a knot.

2. Mix a cup of flour with a cup of water in a bowl to make a smooth paste.

3. Cut the newspaper into rectangular strips. Dip each one in the paste and place it on the balloon. Cover the entire balloon with several layers of newspaper strips. Leave a tiny opening at the top for you to pop the balloon once the piñata is dry.

4. Allow the piñata to dry completely. This may take a few hours. Once the piñata is dry, pop the balloon with a needle.

5. Cut strips of crepe paper and glue them to the piñata, covering the surface.

6. Tape the string to the top of the piñata so it can hang while you try to break it open.

Take turns trying to break open the piñata. Photo: Shutterstock

Write a fun birthday song

Material:

• pencil

• notebook

Instructions:

1. Think of the person you’re writing the song for and what you want to say to them on their birthday. What are some of your favourite memories together? What makes this person special?

2. Choose a melody or tune. You can use a popular song and change the lyrics, or create your own melody.

3. Write down the lyrics to your song in a notebook.

4. Practise singing your song to make sure it flows well and sounds nice.

5. Once you’re happy with your song, perform it for the guest of honour!