Quinceanera is a ceremony celebrated in Latin America to acknowledge the transformation of a girl into womanhood. The term is derived from the Spanish word ‘Quince’ which means 15 and Quinceanera in English means “Sweet 15”. Quinceanera is the 15th birthday celebration of a young woman in Latin America.
Quinceanera is commonly witnessed in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba and in Central and South America, as a grand and pompous ceremony. This ceremony is performed to honor a young woman who has reached her sexual maturity and now considered an adult, ready to take up family and social responsibilities. This ceremony is also held to reaffirm her religious faith, virtues of traditional family values and good morals. On the night before the girl’s Quinceanera or 15th birthday, she is serenaded by a local band known as mariachi in front of her house, with the ceremony being performed the following Saturday. The celebration is usually begin with a religious ceremony, followed by a reception in the house or banquet hall. The Quinceanera or the girl arrives in the church dressed in a fancy and beautiful full length gown, usually worn in white or shades of light or pale pink with a matching headdress and a refined bouquet. The Quinceanera traditionally wears a long wedding style gown or ball gown. Other than her family, Quinceanera is accompanied by several young women also dressed in gowns known as damas or the maids of honor, and young men dressed in tuxedos known as chamberlains or escorts. The festivities include music and food, and a choreographed dance performed by the Quinceanera and her court. It is celebrated mainly to highlight God, family, friends, food, music and dance.
The Quinceanera customarily receives a tiara, which denotes a princess before God and the world, a ring or a bracelet symbolizing the unending circle of life, earrings as a reminder to listen to the words of God, cross or necklace or medal for faith in God, herself and the world, and finally the Bible and Rosary as important resources to keep the words of God in her life. |
