Quinceañera Planet: Mexico

    Mexico is a land of a hundred different cultures spread over thousands of cities and villages, each with its own traditions and heritage. So it’s only natural that the Mexican Quinceañera is not one kind of event but many different celebrations and traditions, carefully handed down through centuries. There are so many, in fact, that just listing the many variations could fill a whole series of articles! These traditions also vary according to the family’s economic status, though the Quince fiesta itself is seen as a special occasion. Many families save for months and years to hold a special celebration.
    Many families in Mexico are Roman Catholic, and base much of a young girl’s Quinceañera on their faith. The ceremonies begin with a special mass said by the village or parish priest, called a Misa de Acción de Gracias, or Thanskgiving Mass. The Quince girl will arrive at the Mass dressed in formal attire. The dress is usually traditional, though she may choose the color – usually white or pink. She’s accompanied by her parents, grandparents, and a special set of grandparents chosen for the occasion. She may also be accompanied by her court of damas and chambalanes. This detail varies on the region and the wishes of the Quinceañera and her family. In fact, in some traditions the Quince girl may elect not to have damas at all.
    During the Misa, the priest will say a few words of blessing for the Quince girl, that she will grow up to be strong in her faith and a helpful member of her community. In turn, the Quinceañera girl will swear to remain a virgin until married and also to stay true to the Catholic faith. She also thanks God for being allowed to grow up into a young woman. In modern times, the priest sometimes says a single Misa for all the Quince girls of a certain month or time of year. This too varies from city to city and among villages.
    That evening, the Quince girl arrives at her fiesta after all her guests, her court, and her family members have arrived to welcome her debut as a young woman. After an elaborate feast, the girl changes shoes, marking a symbolic change from girl into woman. Many Quince girls choose to have their “adult” shoes be their first pair of heels.
    The Quince girl will also dance the first waltz of the evening with her father. There is sometimes a special choreographed dance with the Quinceañera and her court, though this tradition is not as widespread as it once was. The Quince girl may also receive her ultima muñeca, or “last doll,” and receive a tiara placed on her head by her grandmother. The fiesta then begins in its entirety, with dancing and celebrating long into the night. In some traditions, the party symbolically does not end officially until dawn the following morning.
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