Mayhem in Mexico!

Mordida, translated literally, means a "little bite." That's probably why the word has been used to mean the small bite traffic cops sometimes accept in order not to ticket drivers.

However, there's also another meaning of Mordida that's a lot more fun and a lot tougher to get out of!

At birthday celebrations, once assembled guests finish singing the lovely words of the traditional song, "Las Mananitas" and the candles have been extinguished, the guests begin chanting "Mordida, Mordida, Mordida!" (Little bite, little bite, little bite!)

For NOBs (north of the border), unused to Mexican tradition, it's the unexpected "face in the cake" moment. The guest of honor is obliged to take the first bite of cake without using utensils or their hands---just leaning down to take a bite out of the cake. Then, usually, strategically positioned behind the honoree is someone else ready to slam their face into the cake when they lean down. It also usually means that is how big of a piece of cake you get to eat too...that part seems obvious to me! No, thank you...no face cake for me please!

At this point the guest of honor, child or adult, has a choice. He or she can either lean forward to take a bite of the cake or wait for someone in the crowd to help by shoving his or her face into the cake. The most popular party photo of all is that of is of a smiling child, his or her mouth and nose covered in icing.

To read the entire more about mordita, click here...

To see the memories from the November 17 thru 24 2007 Focus program, click here...