In the last week we’ve attended 3 birthday parties, 2 of which were for kids. One was a local friend and the other some visitors from America. I’ve always loved that in Spanish, particularly the Mexican form, there are 2 words for “party.” One, fiesta, is your average, run-of-the-mill celebration that will only last probably 2-3 hours and won’t get too crazy or too exciting. The other is pachanga. Basically you have a party or you have a PARTAY! In my general experience Latinos typically PARTAY, and it’s one of the many things I love about the culture. It might be hard to imagine a PARTAY for a child’s birthday, but it can happen.
When we went to the two birthday pachangas, nothing seemed unusual to me, and I enjoyed the life and energy that accompany these types of events, but yesterday we attended the celebration for some American visitors to the island. I didn’t even think about the differences until we arrived and was immediately struck by the severe sedate blandness by comparison. I kept the smile plastered to my face like you’re supposed to and dutifully applauded softly when the little girl blew out her sad, solitary candle., but secretly I wanted her to discover the Mexican tradition. You see in Mexico you don’t just make a wish and blow out the candle(s). Oh no. After you’re sung to, as you’re surrounded by loving friends and family, you blow the candle out and someone joyfully smashes your face into the cake. A kid’s face is smaller, so usually you don’t need 2 cakes for this. Everyone knows it’s coming, but the victim always manages to act shocked when it happens. The adult one can get even more fun when the birthday boy or girl decides that other people’s faces need to be properly decorated by a mix of cake and frosting as well. We saw this as Tigger had his first empanada in the mercado during our 1st week here. I loved that even in a “work place” coworkers were getting plastered with birthday cake in the walkway.
Piñatas here are not for the faint-hearted either. I watched a line of about 15 kids whack the hell out of one the other day. Each child took at least 3 turns before the thing even gave a hint of weakness. Finally some big, burly men joined in and blushed mightily as their best efforts proved meaningless to the papier mache structure. Piñatas made in Mexico make sure you’ve earned that candy, let me tell you! Our American party hosts did their best, but where was the singing that accompanies each person’s turn at getting out their pent-up frustrations on a strung-up candy container? They had never heard of the song (okay, I hadn’t known about that either until our birthday party the other day), and this was their first time doing or even seeing a piñata, which really surprised me since they live in Texas. Tigger and I tried to pass on some of the local fun traditions, but they weren’t all that interested and the piñata finally suffered its annihilation as bored children grabbed it and manually ripped it apart (after some seriously great effort, too). Afterward adults sat around in quiet mundane discussion over cocktails while the children ran around and played. This wasn’t even close to a fiesta much less a pachanga! I wanted the smell of corn tortillas being heated on the grill, the loud boisterous stories being told all around me, and for heaven’s sake I wanted to see a face get smashed into a cake!
It was interesting seeing 2 different worlds so vividly highlighted back to back like this. I’m especially glad Tigger got to experience it. And my suspicion was confirmed. He’s definitely more of a pachanga-type person. Just like his dad.
P.S. Yeah, the pic isn’t the greatest quality but sometimes you gotta go with what you got, right?
14 comments
Skip to comment form ↓
Acceleratedstall
22/05/2011 at 8:47 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
It’s a blast to experience different traditions – In Prague the wedding is followed by a reception, much drinking and at some point the groomsmen will make off with Bride (physically removing her from the premises) – then they wait to see how long before the groom notices. Once he’s clued in, he has to go find her. I’ve not heard of a groom failing this mission. Good times had by all.
Anonymous
23/05/2011 at 12:50 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
What a fun tradition!
snorkler8
22/05/2011 at 10:35 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
Reading this brought back some fond memories. I have had Hispanic friends attend an Anglo party and mention how “triste” the party was lol Hispanics do know how to have fun!
Anonymous
23/05/2011 at 12:51 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
ROFL! So very true. I love that comment.
Justin Hamlin
23/05/2011 at 3:45 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
Glad you got to experience both and see how boring us geuritos are.
Anonymous
23/05/2011 at 5:19 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
I’m sure you’d be fun though
Lula Lola
23/05/2011 at 8:08 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
I think I’d fall on the pachanga side of the fence if given the choice!
Anonymous
23/05/2011 at 8:28 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
Pachangas rule!
Erica Kuschel
24/05/2011 at 4:24 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
Oh yes – I’ve had my face smashed into the cake as a child. It is amazing – I never thought that bdays could even be so different within the US.
Anonymous
24/05/2011 at 9:38 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
It’s so much fun! Wish that was a regular tradition in the States.
Chrstina
24/05/2011 at 6:18 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
I love learning how other cultures celebrate. Thanks for sharing.
Anonymous
24/05/2011 at 9:39 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
And thank you for visiting the blog & commenting!
Superxicana
02/06/2011 at 4:37 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
Great topic!!! Yes us Mexicans do know how to party!!! Glad Tigger was able to discover pachangas at such an early age =) You will find the same energy at baptisms, quincea~neras, weddings, etc. I love pi~natas sooo much I even had one at my 27 b-day party & it was a blast hahahahaha
Anonymous
02/06/2011 at 7:58 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
Quinceañeras & bodas are awesome! Pachangas rule!