El Día de Tu Cumpleaños

Violeta Parra's 'El Día de Tu Cumpleaños' is a tender and heartfelt song that celebrates the birthday of her child. The lyrics convey a deep sense of affection and the importance of this day, not just for the child but as a significant event worthy of grand celebration. Parra's words are filled with warmth and the simple yet profound joy of a mother's love. She wishes for the sun's rays to wake her child and for the evening star and the moon to greet him, symbolizing the natural world's participation in the celebration of life.

The song also touches on themes of poverty and the desire to give more than one is able. Parra laments her inability to give material gifts, but instead, she offers the beauty of nature and her heartfelt wishes as presents. This sentiment reflects the idea that love and good wishes are more valuable than material possessions. The mention of 'mistela' and 'torilla candeal'—traditional Chilean foods—along with the 'flor de la temporá' (flower of the season) at the window, adds a cultural touch to the celebration, grounding it in the customs and traditions of her homeland.

Finally, Parra's song is a call for universal celebration, suggesting that from Africa to Magallanes, flags should be raised in honor of her child's birth. This hyperbolic expression of joy underscores the significance of the occasion and the universal nature of celebrating life. The song ends with a blessing, wishing her child to live a hundred more years, a common expression of goodwill on birthdays. 'El Día de Tu Cumpleaños' is a beautiful ode to the love between a mother and her child, the joy of life, and the hope for a bright future.