¡Hoy es mi cumpleaños!

One of my favorite things about my birthday is being sung Las Mañanitas, the Mexican birthday song.

Last night at midnight, my suegros and my cuñada called to sing it to me, and this morning I woke up to messages on Twitter and Facebook with video links or lyrics to Las Mañanitas and birthday wishes galore. Thanks to all who made my day so special!

Last year I was lucky enough to spend my birthday in Mexico so I was serenaded in person at midnight and received flowers. This is one of my absolute favorite traditions in Mexican culture and I can’t wait to someday sing it to my own children. A friend on Twitter was telling me that her best birthday memories are of her mamá singing Las Mañanitas to her. Every year, my mom calls me at exactly the time of day that I was born so many Decembers ago to sing to me and wish me a happy birthday. Now, my suegros call me every year and sing me Las Mañanitas, and I must admit it gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling inside and I love it. José’s birthday is next month, so on his birthday I will sing it to him, too.

If you’ve never heard the song before, here’s your chance. My favorite version is by Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán, as you can hear below, but I’m happy with any version sung to me on my birthday!

And as I promised earlier this week on Twitter, I said I’d Storify some of my favorite birthday wishes and videos that friends, family and fans sent me. I hope you especially enjoy the videos; I know I did!

• Do you have fond memories of being sung Las Mañanitas? What’s your favorite birthday tradition?