Quinceañera Changes, 2008

by: Michael Kabel

          Today's Quince girl is part of a new generation of young women with advantages and challenges like none other in the history of the world! So many things are changing, sometimes faster than the mind can comprehend. It might sound strange, but just twenty years ago no one thought phones would ever features cameras, or that the Internet could offer everyone their own personal website. But times change!

Changes Are a Part of Life

            With such a rapidly shifting culture, it makes sense that the Quinceañera would undergo some transformations of its own. That's not to say the traditions have to end or become hard to recognize. Quite the contrary, they can grow even stronger from adapting to the changing world around them.

            Perhaps you're nervous about including members of your "blended family" of stepbrothers, sisters, or parents into your Quinceañera celebration. Or, you might be nervous about inviting someone from outside the Latino community to be a damas or chambelane. It's all right to feel nervous - changes are often intimidating. But it's also true that people adapt most easily to change when they confront it head on.

New Ways to Approach The Quinceañera

            One way to plan your Quinceañera and keep all your guests informed - and for you to make a vivid souvenir of the process-is to create an Internet site especially devoted to your Quinceañera. You can use MySpace, Facebook, or any other "social networking" system to keep a journal, post pictures, and keep in touch with friends.

            Many of the supplies you'll need for your Misa and your fiesta are available from online merchants, like the one you're visiting right now. You can order them online and not go through the hassle of paying for them and picking them up.

            Some very forward-thinking quince girls are beginning to post their invitations online, rather than send out the traditional mailing. This is fine for your friends and your younger, e-smart relatives. But remember too that many older people (grandparents, et cetera) aren't so versatile on the Internet and might miss the good news. So, a traditional invitation still works best for them.

Assembling Your Guests and Court

            Experts say the Quinceañera is becoming more popular every year partly because young Latino girls are infusing its traditions with American customs and fashion sense. With that fusion already underway, you’ve got every right to include your modern family or non-Latino friends into the court.

            Deciding which among your stepbrothers and sisters, or even stepparents, to include among the court of honor can be tricky, but don't feel bashful about including them all. The celebration is about you, after all, and they all play a part in your life. Now, don't think you should make any decisions without thinking the arrangements over completely. You should be sensitive, but remember it's ultimately about what you want.

            The court of honor can also include any friends you wish. You might even choose to have only damas, or more damas than chambelanes. As long as your friends are all included as much as you'd like, and no one feels slighted, you should build your court to your own specifications.

            So, remember that change doesn't have to be frightening. You're changing yourself, growing up and quickly becoming a young woman. It's only natural that the celebration commemorating that change should undergo a little shifting of its own.