Quinceañera Tradition

In Latino culture, a girl's fifteenth birthday party is a religious and social occasion that ushers her into womanhood. The celebration highlights God, family, friends, music, food, and dance. The closest equivalents to the Quinceañera in the English-speaking world are the sweet sixteen, cotillion, or the debutante ball for those who turn eighteen.

Quinceañera is adapted by the Spanish Catholics from the Mayans and Aztecs, a girl's fifteenth birthday symbolized that she was ready for womanhood and marriage. She would spend time learning her duties, such as cooking, housework, cleaning, and child-rearing. After the fifteenth birthday party a girl was expected to get married. Today, girls still celebrate Quinceañera as an entrance into becoming responsible, dating, and learning about their religion and culture.

The celebration traditionally begins with a religious ceremony. A reception is held in the home or a banquet hall. The festivities include food and music, and in most, a choreographed waltz or dance performed by the Quinceanera and her court, which is composed young girls (called a Dama), young men (called Escorte) or a combination of both - traditionally up to 14 persons in the court, which with the Quinceanera, would total 15 young people.

The Quinceañera dress is considered the most important part of the celebration. The traditional dress is the long pink or white gowns, but today, girls may wear whatever color they wish. The occasion can either be very formal or quite casual, depending on what the family decides upon.

It is customary for the Quinceanera to receive the following gifts for her ceremony: tiara, bracelet or ring, earrings, cross or medal, Bible or Prayer Book and Rosary and scepter.

There are many rituals throughout the celebration:

1. A Kneeling Pillow at the church celebration. It is specially decorated with the Quinceanera's name and will be placed in position for the young girl to kneel on during the ceremony.

2. The brindis, or the toast to the Quinceanera during receptions. With decorated Champagne Glasses, the guests are invited to offer their congratulations and best wishes.

3. A porcelain doll is presented by the birthday girl to her younger sister as a sign that she is leaving those things behind.

4. The Quinceañera's father also changes her shoes from flats to heels for the same reason.

5. The first dance is performed by the birthday girl and her father, followed by a "chambelan", or boyfriend, followed by all the other boys.