What a Quinceanera Celebration Means for a Young Girl
The Latin American celebration of quinceañera marks a girl’s fifteenth birthday. Its purpose is to commemorate the transition from childhood to adulthood. In essence it is to honor a young girl in becoming a woman.
The name of the event is quince años, and this literally translates as fifteen years, the word quinceañera really refers to the girl.
In the Portuguese speaking country of Brazil the same celebration is known asfesta de debutantesor festa de quinze años. In the French speaking South American countries it is known as tte des quinze ans.
The celebration dates back hundreds of years although it does vary within different countries. In Argentina and Paraguay the celebration is always referred to asFiesta de Quince(celebration of fifteen). It is not a ritual dictated by the Catholic Church although religion is an important part of the celebration in that it gives thanks to God.
In addition to the religious virtues, the celebration focuses upon family values, social obligations, and Latin culture.
Theorder of eventswill vary among the different countries. Nevertheless, it always begins in church with the attendance of mass. The priest will explain to the birthday girl what is to be expected of her, and the significance in becoming a woman.
Following mass the gathering will move to a banquet hall, although sometimes the celebration is held at home. No matter the family’s status in society, when a girl turns fifteen this ceremony will always takes place. However, the higher the family’s social strata then the more lavish the celebration is likely to be.
The festivities begin when the girl arrives wearing a unique dress for the occasion. It is usually a pastel color such as a pale pink or blue, and may even be white. Some girls do however prefer bolder colors such as a deep red or maroon. She will be wearing a tiara or a crown and is usually accompanied by her father. Depending upon the country, friends and relatives may present the father with flowers.
The celebration includes fourteen young girls referred to as damas and the same number of young men known as chambelanes. The damas usually wear identical gowns to highlight that of the quinceañera’s dress. The chambelanes wear tuxedos. A waltz will begin and it is at this point that the girl dances with her chambelanes. There will then be intermittent periods of the serving of food and dancing. Following on from dessert, a fifteen candle ceremony may take place. This is optional and is mostly typical within Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The quinceañera will give a candle, and sometimes a speech to those she considers to have been the most influential during her fifteen years.
During the celebration the girl will receive many gifts. Some will be religious in nature and she is likely to be given a bible, a cross, and rosary beads. She will be presented with items of jewelry and very often a doll. This is thelast dollthat she will receive and it symbolizes the end of childhood. Although a girl will feel very special as a quinceañera, this part of the ceremony undoubtedly holds a hint of sadness.
Sometimes the girl will arrive in flat shoes, and at some point during the festivity she will be given shoes with heels to symbolize her womanhood.
A quinceañera is very well prepared for the transition. The celebration takes months of planning and she will be aware of the significance. The girl assumes a great deal of responsibility both socially and within the family. She knows that from this day onward that she will be treated as a young woman as opposed to a little girl. She will fully understand what is required of her and the importance of entering into womanhood.
