In Latin American cultures , the changeover from maidenhood to womanhood is a special time , not only for a girl herself , but for her family and even biotic community . Traditionally , in the eye of Romance American communities , the fifteenth birthday has marked the stage of a girlfriend ’s maturity . So , to lionise this significant natal day , families throw elaborate natal day political party calledquinceañeras . This is similar to a “ sweet 16 ” party in the United States , but the quinceañera tradition has old roots and religious implications , making it more like to a at-bat mitzvah from the Jewish tradition .
Curiously , bookman are n’t quite sure where the quinceañera custom come from . Some believe it was an adoption of a custom bring over by the Spanish . For instance , one theory ask that the custom lead off in 18th - century Spain , when the Duchess of Alba invite teenage girls to a party at the castle and dressed them in mature adult clothes for the first time . By the next century , the Empress Carlotta of Mexico was doing the same for the daughter of the members of her judicature to present them as eligible formarriage . Others say the tradition is far older , stretching back to the Toltecs and Aztecs of ancient Mesoamerica [ source : Stavans ] . Perhaps the quinceañera was ultimately a shading of the two traditions .
Whatever the origin , the quinceañera has become very significant , take on many significant traditions as part of the elaborated celebration .
10: The Ceremony
The quinceañera solemnisation traditionally initiate off with the family observe a Catholic thanksgiving Mass. The birthday girl , also known as thequinceañera , enters the church in a procession , not unlike the traditionalmarriageprocession . She may be go with by a court of law of young man and woman , as well as her parents and godparents . ( We ’ll talk more about the court of justice on the next varlet . )
She may be countenance to pick out the readings of the Mass forwards of clock time and ask a phratry penis or friend to read them , or she may choose to read them herself . After the readings , gospel and homily , the young woman renews her Baptismal promise and entrust herself to God and the Virgin Mary . The parent or godparents may choose to give the little girl limited spiritual endowment at this time . After Communion , the quinceañera can make a devotion to the Virgin Mary by presenting a flower or posy of flowers to the church ’s statue . The priest then sign the quinceañera before concluding the Mass.
After the Mass or Robert William Service is over , the quinceañera celebration has just begun .
9: The Court of Honor
As we bring up on the last page , a quinceañera may have a royal court of youngmenandwomento sustain her during the particular solemnisation . The court may accompany her down the gangway in the church procession , but it also has customary roles in the response afterward .
Traditionally , a full court is made up of 14 girls ( damas ) and 14 boy ( chambelans ) , in addition to an escort for the quinceañera herself , with each couplet representing a year of the miss ’s life . However , for simplicity ’s interest , some people choose to halve this . Some folk opt for seven girls and seven boys , while others have a court of just 14 damas or just 14 chambelans .
The quinceañera will typically ask friend and family members to make up her court . Like a wedding party , the young lady will be expected to wear matching gowns , and the men will be asked to hold out tuxes . So , etiquette experts advocate that a quinceañera fully prepare her court for what it will involve . When she ask someone to link her court , she should allow him or her bed what to expect when purchasing or renting a gown or tuxedo .
Also , the court should be prepare for a special saltation during the celebration , which is another favorite tradition that we ’ll excuse on the next Thomas Nelson Page .
8: The Dances
harmonise to custom , a quinceañera ’s first dance is with her male parent . It ’s usually to a song of the Father-God ’s choosing that has a sealed significance to them . Traditionally , it also represent a daughter ’s first public dance . Afterward , the founding father can give the quinceañera over to her escort .
One of the most democratic quinceañera tradition is the walk-in , an elegant , choreographed dancing do by the birthday miss and her court . If this is also the first dance of the solemnization , the quinceañera will take her father as her partner . It can often take month of planning and several rehearsal to make a court for the choreographed dance . And some crime syndicate select to charter a professional terpsichore choreographer to point the party .
7: The Gown
The quinceañera nightgown is just as important as the wedding party gown is . Just like the custom started by the Duchess of Alba in Spain , this will be the first grownup wearing apparel for the young char .
likewise , many families value reserve in the plan of the dress , peculiarly for the Mass part of the festivities . As a via media , some quinceañeras wear shawl or jackets over spaghetti straps or sleeveless dresses during the Mass , and remove them afterwards .
6: The Food
No celebration would be complete without a feast . Traditionally , the family and perhaps neighbors in the community would all help prepare a home - falsify array of lulu for the reception . However , this has largely shifted over to the practice of hiring a caterer to provide the meal – another prospect that makes the quinceañera standardized to a marriage .
As investigator have pointed out , the kinds of food at a quinceañera celebration will reflect the picky culture , as well as the social course and fiscal resources of the family . Mexican - American quinceañeras will normally include a variety of foods , including enchiladas , tamales , chicken groin , and staples like rice and beans [ source : Candelaria ] .
Of course , another essential element to a Hellenic quinceañera is the patty . expectant and often elaborate in design , the cake is a centerpiece of the celebration . Common varieties of cake for a quinceañera include almond meringue bar , or a squashy cake be intimate as tres lecher , which , as its name incriminate , is made with three eccentric of Milk River [ germ : Castella ] .
5: The Roles of the Parents
We ’ve already mentioned one important use the parents have in the quinceañera jubilation , which is the tradition of the father dancing the first dance with birthday girl . This special father - daughter dance represents her transition towomanhoodand highlights the grandness of the don as the firstmanin her life . But the parents also have other significant roles .
Another popular tradition is the changing of the shoes . In this rite , one of the parents will take off the quinceañera ’s flats and interchange them with elegant heels . This will be the girl ’s first pair of heels , represent her growing and adulthood . Finally , the parents will give a goner to their girl , often emphasizing her personal achievement and virtue [ source : Kernecker ] .
And , of course , we ca n’t overtop one of the most significant roles of the parents – make up for the celebration . However , this often does n’t fall completely on the parent ’ shoulders . Traditionally , a quinceañera will be at least partially funded by others , as we ’ll find out next .
4: The Sponsors
As quinceañeras have grown in extravagance , the families who throw them have begun to rely on others to help them carry the brunt of the costs . They ’ll seek assistance from old kin phallus or friends of the phratry . When masses agree to aid devote for a portion of the celebration , they are known as padrinos or madrinas , which literally means “ godfather ” and “ godmothers . ”
3: The Candle Lighting
Many quinceañeras admit a candle - ignition ceremony in their celebration . This can be a very moving ceremonial , as the birthday girl takes time to honour people who have been particularly significant in her sprightliness .
The quinceañera herself pick out 15 people , often including her parents , siblings , other family members and close friends . Some girls just choose their 14 damas and one extra person , such as her female parent . During the ceremonial occasion , she commit a candle to each one of them .
The DJ will call up members one by one and perhaps play a special vocal as the quinceañera presents each with a cd . While she presents the candle , she ’ll also give a prepared language about how each of them has been significant to her and facilitate her reach maturity . Some girl decide to do the opposite , however , and have the selected citizenry say something about the quinceañera .
2: Many Firsts
Because the quinceañera is a solemnization of a girl growing into maturity , it is meet that the celebration is full of tradition that mark several “ firsts . ” For example , we ’ve already touched on how the quinceañera label the girl ’s first public dance .
This custom of the first public dance shares law of similarity with deb ball in other cultures , which are dances that mark a girl ’s “ coming out ” in fellowship for the first time . Although the quinceañera jubilation was traditionally meant for introducing girls as eligible tomarry , 15 is now generally considered too youthful for that . However , some families allow a young lady to appointment for the first time follow the quinceañera .
1: Symbolic Gifts
In addition to many low gear , a quinceañera will invite what ’s known as the " last doll . " Some say this custom came from Puerto Rico , while others claim it uprise in Mexico . This is usually a porcelain chick , often habilitate like the quinceañera . Once again , it ’s presented to her as a gift that signifies her passing into adulthood . Some family choose to have ribbons pinned to the skirt that bear the name of the quinceañera and the date of the celebration . The birthday girl hands these ribbons out to guests as they get out .
Other gifts might let in a Bible , a rosary , a cross or a laurel wreath , which are religious gift that would customarily be give during the thanksgiving Mass. Also , during the Mass , grandparent might give the quinceañera 15 red-faced roses , with the stems signifying intensity level and the flower petal signifying sweetness [ source : Mills ] . The family might select to give the natal day miss a tiara and scepter , signifying responsibility . In some cultures , a birthstone anchor ring and a bracelet are traditional gifts that represent femininity and coming of age .
Although quinceañeras and their menage often beak and choose which traditions to apply and which will be important to them , they apparently have mass to choose from , each rife with symbolic substance .
