‘We’re gonna need a bigger cake’: 1.2 million RSVP to birthday bash

THIS girl’s dad said “everyone is welcome” to her 15th birthday party. Now police are on standby after 1.2 million people RSVP’d to the invite.

SUFFICE to say, they’re gonna need a bigger cake.

Millions of people have responded to an invitation to a coming of age party for a girl in rural Mexico after her parent’s video innocently asked “everybody” to attend, and ended up going viral.

After all, what’s not to like about Rubi Ibarra’s “Sweet 15” party on December 26, which will feature a horse race with a cash prize, local bands ... and more than 1.2 million potential guests.

The RSVP list exploded after a local photographer posted the video describing a “down-home” 15th birthday party complete with food, horse races and local bands to his Facebook page, which is usually dedicated to announcing weddings, baptisms and other events in a rural corner of the northern state of San Luis Potosi.

But the video was picked up dozens of times on YouTube, with each version getting hundreds of thousands of views.

Rubi Ibarra with her father Crescencio and mother Anaelda. Picture: Facebook

It went global. It has been seen by millions, sparked tributes by musical stars, become the butt of jokes, and drawn sponsorship offers by companies.

Maybe it was daughter Rubi Ibarra’s rhinestone tiara and faux leopard-skin dress, or father Crescencio Ibarra’s cowboy hat, and his halting description of the 10,000-peso (US$500) prize for the “chiva” — the horse race that will cap off the party.

“There will be a chiva (race) with 10,000 pesos, as for second and third places, we’ll work that out,” Ibarra says proudly in the video.

“Everyone is cordially invited.”

Rubi’s mum, Anaelda, told a local TV station “my husband made the invitation, but to people who live in neighbouring regions. I don’t know who copied it, but they posted it and it blew up, as if it were an invitation to the entire world.”

Mexicans often throw big bashes in what is the equivalent of an American “sweet 16” party.

Authorities in San Luis Potosi said they were adding extra security measures for Rubi’s party.

State congressman Roberto Segovia wants Red Cross and state civil defence personnel to be posted around La Joya, which only has several thousand inhabitants.

“We are offering this help, because it was something impressive, how this phenomenon grew on social media, and it has caused quite a stir in our district,” Mr Segovia said.

Mexican airline Interjet discounted fares to San Luis Potosi, under the slogan ‘Are you going to Rubi’s party?’ Picture: Twitter

“We are contacting the family and the police forces and emergency agencies to provide security in the area.”

Mexican airline Interjet published a promotion offering 30 per cent discounts on flights to San Luis Potosi, under the slogan “Are you going to Rubi’s party?”

Internet jokesters published photos of troops of turkeys, backhoes stirring giant cauldrons of soup, and massive crowds “heading for Rubi’s party”.

The internet memes were punctuated by frequent images of goats, because Crescencio Ibarra used the term “chiva” — the Spanish word for goat — which is also local slang for a two-horse competition — to refer to the race to be held at the party.

Actor Gael Garcia made a parody video of the invitation, in which a man with razor stubble plays Rubi and a goat bleats in the background.

Norteno singer Luis Antonio Lopez “El Mimoso” composed a “corrido” especially for Rubi, with the line “Never before in history has a 15th birthday party created such a fuss.”

Lopez dedicated it, “If they don’t invite me, here goes my humble gift for Rubi on her 15th birthday.” That line was a reference to Crescencio Ibarra’s brief decision to un-invite everybody but friends and family after he saw the attention his offer was getting.

“It got out of control,” Ibarra said.

He then relented and reinstated the offer. “Everybody who wants to come, you’re all invited,” he said.

Mr Ibarra told local news outlets when he found out about the mass interest in their daughter’s party and how some had poked fun at their rural ways he had been “sad” for two day.

But he said that the family had now got used to the idea and that the party would go ahead in a field outside the village of La Joya, in the state of San Luis Potosi.

Ms Garcia said: “Rubi is my daughter and she has always been our queen”, before describing her favourite meme so far.

“It’s the one about Donald Trump and [Mexican President} Enrique Pena Nieto coming to an agreement to allow undocumented Mexican migrants in the US to return to Mexico for Rubi’s party.”

Rubi marked this one depicting president-elect Donald Trump and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto agreeing to allow undocumented Mexican migrants in the US to return to Mexico for party as her favourite: Picture: Twitter