Babies & Birthdays

The baby to the left is Pablo & Jan's granddaughter, Sofi, who just celebrated her first birthday. But on Sunday, I met another baby at church who doesn't yet have a name. The baby is probably at least 4 months old. People here often do not name their babies until they are at least 6 months old. The government doesn't even issue birth certificates until babies are 6 months old! The reason is simple and sad --- the high rate of infant mortality. Parents are afraid to name their babies because names define an identity and a place in the family - as if losing them to death without a name lessens the perceived sense of loss is less. I find this so sad. And yet, it's the reason why celebrating the first birthday is such a big deal!

With each birthday, the celebration is really quite different from our birthdays in the US. Each completed year of life is cause for grand celebration -- full of songs, prayers of gratitude to God for giving that person another completed year of life. For those of you who know a little Spanish, think about it ----- cumpleaño ---- a completed year. You may have read other blog posts about the Mexican tradition of singing the "mañanitas" at midnight on someone's birthday. We arrive silently to someone's bedroom window just after midnight and begin the songs of celebration. When they come out to receive the gift of song, we join hands in prayer to thank God for the person and for the gift of another completed year of life. This recognition of the gift of life is lost in American birthday celebrations, but not here in Mexico. I have driven way too many teenagers all over town way too many times in the past 2 years (the curse of being one of the few with a car), but in truth, I think it's a wonderful tradition.

For Sofi, in particular, we thank God for her life and joy she brings to ours. And for all babies here in Mexico, please join us in prayer for them to live long enough to get a name and to enjoy year after year of mañanitas and celebrations of the gift of another year of life.