Music and Traditions

        Music plays a big role in Mexican culture. Bandas, corridos, and mariachis are some genres of music that are very popular in Mexico. My family plays some specific music whenever we have gatherings, birthday parties, funerals, etc.

1. Birthdays:

       When it’s time to celebrate a little kid’s birthday party we usually have a clown performing and when it’s time to cut the birthday cake we sing las mañanitas. Along with this my family always plays a song called Las Mañanitas by Cepillan! It’s a birthday song that’s always played in Hispanic families for younger kids. (It’s actually one of the most streamed birthday songs in Mexico). However, this isn't the only birthday song my family uses. Usually, older teenagers and adults get a different version of Las Mañanitas which is sung by Vicente Fernandez. While we play these songs when it’s time to blow the candles out, my family plays these songs when it’s time to wake the birthday girl/boy in the mornings. My family actually stopped using the version from Cepillan when I turned 15 which is when girls are considered young ladies in my culture! However, my mom still uses it to wake me up for my birthdays. ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა

2. Gatherings:

        My family has this thing where every other Saturday we come together to make food and stay up usually until midnight. Since my family is big into drinking every gathering is accompanied by beer and tequila, once everyone starts drinking, the dancing starts. La Chona is a song by Los Tucanes De Tijuana that will be played at these gatherings or any party in general. I remember when I was little I got sick of this song because of how repeatedly it was played. Though now whenever I listen to it I get nostalgia and it’s not one of my favorite songs to dance to.

3. Funerals:

        While mariachi music can be played anywhere, my family usually prefers playing it for funerals because of how sentimental it makes us feel. A couple of years ago my cousin from Mexico passed away and I was fortunate enough to travel back to attend her funeral. While there My family hired a mariachi band to play. A song they played that stuck with me was Amor Eterno by Rocío Dúrcal. During the time I lived in Mexico, my cousin and I were very close, even when I moved to the US we would keep in touch every day. Hearing the mariachi band play this song felt like an official goodbye. Listening to this song now brings memories of when we were together.