The 18th birthday of my daughter, Rachel, was cause for us to learn much about Mexican birthday customs.

The day began with a pre-dawn serenade outside the window of our tiny one-room apartment. At 4:30 a.m., we heard the sudden strumming of guitars as male voices broke into song.

"Las Mañanitas" is the traditional Mexican birthday song used for such serenades and is also what is sung at birthday parties and Saint's Day festivities.

We opened the door to find four young men, friends of Rachel, who each gave her a hug and kiss on the cheek while offering "Felicidades" (Happy Birthday).

Not long after they'd left, another group of minstrels (believing themselves to be the first) serenaded her with another round of "Las Mañanitas," as well as some love songs. This group includes a male suitor, and we've since learned that the early morning serenade is typically a romantic way to awaken a love interest at sunrise on their birthday.

In Mexico, importance is placed on an individual's third, 15th and 18th birthdays.

At age 3, toddlers are presented to the community at a birthday church service or Mass held in their honor. A celebratory meal and family gathering follows.

The celebrations at 15 and 18 are customarily reserved for young women, though some males do celebrate these with festivities.

When a young woman in Mexico turns 15, her birthday is called a quinceañera, derived from the Spanish word quince, 15, and the word for year, año.

This coming-of-age ceremony is celebrated with a church service or Mass in which the young woman, traditionally dressed in a formal pink or white gown, expresses acceptance of her role as a contributing member of society, acknowledging that her entry into womanhood brings responsibility and commitment to community service.

It is customary for the young woman, also referred to as la quinceañera, to have an escort and a court of honor, not unlike bridesmaids and groomsmen, who are present as witnesses to her commitment.

Families often organize a reception dance and/or meal, at which the quinceañera, her escort and court of honor perform waltzes. This age-old ceremony is rich with tradition that may include the young woman's father changing his daughter's shoes from school-girl flats to womanly high heels or the quinceañera giving away a symbolic "last doll" to a younger sibling.

Much like second birthdays, an individual's Saint's Day is also cause for celebration. Each day of the calendar year has a saint associated with it. Most Mexican calendars come printed with the name of a saint alongside each of the 365 dates.

As an expression of gratitude, some parents name their children after the saint pertaining to the date of their child's birth. If not and there is a saint bearing one's name, that particular Saint's Day is treated much like a birthday, with gifts and gatherings.

Birthday parties in Mexico often include the breaking of piñatas, which are filled with roasted unshelled peanuts, sugar cane and fruit such as clementines, in addition to candy.