Birthday Blow Out

It's birthday season once again in the Mercado family and for all the grandchildren that means blowing-birthday-candles time once again.

From October 20 to December 27, ten birthdays are celebrated: Therese on Oct 20; Paolo, Nov 2; me, Nov 14; Rocio, Nov 15; An, Nov 17; Mom, Nov 27; Wawel, Dec 8, Pepi, Dec 15; Gabe, Dec 24 and Dad, Dec 27.

So that means at least ten cakes in eight weeks for all the grand children to blow.

It's family tradition to let all who want have a turn at blowing out the birthday candles. The celebrant of course gets first crack. Then everyone else follows, one by one, from youngest to oldest. And for every turn, the birthday song is sung.

And so for a family with nine grandchildren, the birthday cake ritual can last for quite a while. And needless to say, the cake is almost always covered with a new layer of "icing."