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by Michael Kabel
The Quinceañera is an ancient custom and tradition with roots growing back to the height of the Aztec empire of Mexico and to Continental European finery. It's a time that's vitally important for the Latina family and especially for the young girl - except for her wedding day, no other single occasion may be so significant.
There's a tendency to compare the Quinceañera, which celebrates a girl's fifteenth birthday, with the American custom of the Sweet Sixteen. That connection is not necessarily fair: while the Sweet 16 is largely a sentimental occasion, rooted in American consumerism, the Quinceañera is a profoundly emotional event for parents and daughter alike. While the trappings and the pageantry may appear very similar, don't mistake the Quinceañera for a superficial party. It's a lot more complex.
The traditional Quinceanera celebration includes the following parts and components. While they vary somewhat among the many Latino cultures, all more or less share these basic facets. Some may include even more.
The Quinceañera Mass
The Quinceañera usually includes a Thanksgiving Mass, or Misa de Acción de Gracias, held at the quince's local church. The priest says a special mass and asks that God watch over the quince girl and help her to continue growing into a virtuous young woman.
The quince girls is accompanied to the church by her parents, her grandparents, her godparents, and sometimes a special set of godparents called padrinos, who have agreed to help fund the celebration. The original godparents and padrinos are often the same people, but additional padrinos may be named to help cover all the expenses.
In some customs the quince girl's grandmother will crown her with a tiara and give her a special scepter, to officially designate her as a princess and a young woman. The priest will also bless several items the girl's family has brought with them. These include a rosary and Bible in addition to the tiara and scepter.
Some quince girls choose to leave a bouquet of flowers on the altar as a prayer offering, after the Mass has concluded.
The Quince Fiesta
If the Quince Mass is a solemn observance, than the fiesta is a time to celebrate. In previous eras, the entire village would be invited to help party with the quince girl. Today that number is limited to family and friends.
The Quince girl has an honor court, or corte de honor, which includes a specified number of damas (girls) and chambelanes (escorts). The number varies, though it is sometimes seven boys and seven girls, making the court add up to 15 people including the princess.
Music and dance play huge roles in the Quinceañera fiesta. The first dance is usually reserved for the quince girl's father. Before or after the dance, the quince girl receives her first pair of heeled shoes, or zapatillas. The girl may also be given the ultima muñeca, or last doll, which she may choose to give to the children attending the fiesta.
Following the dance, there may be an elaborately choreographed number involving the entire court of honor. The quince girl's father will say thanks and toast all the assembled guests, before dining and dancing continues into the night. In some cultures, the party continues until dawn the next morning.
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