When I was a kid, I never understood why Mamá Toni called a birthday a “día de tu santo” or “santo” for short.
No one explained to me that Mexicans often chose a name based on feast saint’s days.
Mamá Toni was named Antonia because she was born on San Antonio de Padúa’s feast day.
Feliz día de su santo, Mamá Toni.
Lotería Chicana 
As a Mexican, I too have questions about this. Can’t you be named after a santo that your birthday doesn’t necessarily fall on? And then that sort of gives you two birthdays a year- your birthday and your dia de tu santo. Right?
My birthday is December 11. My mom, and grandmother used to tell me that if I was born one day later my name would have been Guadalupe.
Thank goodness for the 11th.
I noticed early on that the Mexican calendars my mom would place in the kitchen had all these santos on them,…later on I found out their use
Yes, everyone in my family has a birthday and a dia de su santo…except me! I always felt ripped off because I didn’t get to celebrate twice. But then again, I like my name more than the names that were coming my way on Dec. 10th.