Quinceañera
This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2020) |
A quinceañera (also fiesta de quinceañera, quince años, fiesta de quince años, quinceañero and quinces) is a celebration of a girl's 15th birthday that is common in
This birthday is celebrated differently from any other as it marks the transition from
In the past, parallel customs could be found in
In Brazil, a Portuguese-speaking country, a similar celebration is called festa de debutantes, baile de debutantes, or festa de quinze anos. In the
]Origin
This section needs additional citations for verification. (May 2020) |
Contemporary festivities combine
In a traditional Mexican quinceañera, young women and men have roles as formal damas and chambelanes, who perform special bends at the celebration, along with the quinceañera herself. There is also a "man of honor" who accompanies the young woman. Potential suitors present gifts to her family to make up a dowry or bridal wealth. Prior to her being given away, the women of the community participate by instructing the quinceañera in her duties and responsibilities, urging her to follow the correct path, by remaining true to her people and their traditions throughout her life.
Changes over the years
This section needs additional citations for verification. (May 2020) |
The meaning behind the quinceañera has become more refined over time and has been adapted by various Latino cultures in relation to where they are living.
In rural societies, girls were considered ready for marriage once they turned 15. In the 20th century, the quinceañera received certain privileges associated with womanhood: permission to attend adult parties, pluck her eyebrows and shave her legs, wear makeup, jewelry and high heels. When this tradition originated, the quinceañera was a small party to celebrate the transition. Friends and family gathered in order to give the girl a chance to mingle with young men. Rich families celebrated quinceañeras with big parties and elaborate dresses. In Latin American countries, wealthy families announced quinceañeras in the newspapers to publicize their extravagant celebrations.
In the 1960s, as more Latinos migrated to the United States, they brought their differing national traditions with them. Once in the United States, formerly poor immigrants with good jobs were able to have big parties such as those back in their home country. Family and friends often help put on the event, for example, by making food.
In specific countries
Cuba
This section needs additional citations for verification. (May 2020) |
In
Fifteenth-birthday celebrations were very popular in Cuba until the late 1970s. This practice partly entered Cuba via Spain, but the greatest influence was the French.[citation needed] The wealthy families who could afford to rent expensive dining rooms in private clubs or hotels of four and five stars held celebrations that were the precursors of quinceañeras, which they called quinces. These celebrations usually took place in the house of the girl or the more spacious house of a relative.
Another tradition, commonly found in Cuba, is to have 14 ladies and 14 escorts (sometimes 7 each) as a court. The escorts hold flowers (usually roses) and the ladies carry candles. As the quinceañera dances the waltz with her father, she blows out one candle, then picks up one rose. This continues until she has blown out all the candles and picked up all the roses. The 14 candles blown out represent her 14 previous years, and with each she makes a wish. When the time comes to cut the cake, the quinceañera will blow out her last candle, thus completing her 15 wishes. The flowers are given to her mother.[8]
Colombia
This section needs additional citations for verification. (May 2020) |
In Colombia, the quince starts with the arrival of the teenage girl, accompanied by her father; she is received by her mother and other relatives and friends; father and daughter dance a waltz and other tunes.[9] The quinceañera birthday girl next dances with her brothers (if any) and their uncles and godparents. Then she performs the pasodoble and the waltz with all members of the procession (then optional dances to other music, such as merengue or pop).
For this occasion the teenager wears an evening dress in light colors or pastels, is dressed and made up slightly, and usually places a tiara in her hair and jewels on her neck and hands. All the guests dress in formal attire, including the teenager's peers.
After the first dance, the teenager and her friends have a dance. Then the festival begins with music from live bands, some famous artists, DJs, food, drink, and at one late point of the night a la hora loca[clarification needed] is carried out, in which the attendants wear masks or funny wigs and make noise with whistles and rattles while fast-tempo music is played. It is optional to make some surprise dance performed by the quinceañera birthday girl (alone or accompanied), and a dance that will give away her friends, cousins, and others.
The custom's social significance is such that even poor families tend to spend lavishly on a daughter's quinceañera. The event can cost as much as a year's wages, and many take up debt to be able to pay for it.[10]
French Guiana and French Caribbean
In
Mexico
In Mexico, the quinceañera is adorned with elegant jewelry and
In the Mexican Catholic tradition, the quinceañera celebration begins with a thanksgiving
After the thanksgiving mass, guests gather for a celebratory reception where the events to honor the quinceañera will take place, including giving gifts. This reception may be held at the quinceañera's home, at venues (such as
The basic reception has six major parts[11] with dances taking place while a traditional Mexican meal is served:
- The formal entry (La Entrada) – A grand entrance made by the quinceañera once most guests have been seated.
- The formal toast (El Brindis)– An optional but usually featured part of the reception, generally initiated by the parents or godparents of the birthday girl.
- The first dance – Usually a waltz where the girl dances, starting with her father.
- The family dance – Usually a waltz involving just the immediate relatives, the chambelanes, godparents, and the closest friends of the girl.
- The preferred song (Baile Sorpresa) – Any modern song particularly enjoyed by the quinceañera is played and danced.
- The general dance – Also usually a traditional waltz.
Traditionally, Mexican girls could not dance in public until they turned 15, except at school dances or at family events. So the waltz with her chambelanes is choreographed and elaborate to celebrate what was meant to be the quinceañera's first public dance.
Some families may choose to add a ceremonial components to the celebration, depending on local customs. Among them are the ceremony of the Change of Shoes, in which a family member presents the quinceañera with her first pair of
Once all symbolic gestures have taken place, the dinner is begun. At this point, the celebration reaches its peak; live musical groups begin playing music, keeping the guests entertained. The music is played while the guests dine, chat, mingle, and dance. The next morning the family and closest friends may also attend a special breakfast, especially if they are staying with the family. Sometimes what is known as a recalentado (re-warming) takes place in which any food not consumed during the event of the night before is warmed again for a brunch type event.[15]
The celebration of a quinceañera party is a strong tradition for the majority of Mexican people.
Spain
Although the origin of the festival seems to have its cause in the ancient European aristocratic festival of the "puesta de largo" - or "Debutante ball" according to the nomenclature of foreign influence, in which young women of marriageable age were presented before society, this festival was always restricted to the upper classes in the peninsular kingdoms and in the 20th century its celebration age was delayed to coincide with the civil age of majority. Although it was exported to America, where it also took root among the popular classes, in Spain it gradually disappeared throughout the 20th century. However, the custom has been reintroduced again, although in a less formal version, as a result of Latin American immigration, whose members have applied it to their second generation. However, this version of the festival is not generally considered a custom typical of Spain, but rather exclusive to immigrants.
United States
This section needs additional citations for verification. (May 2020) |
While in most of the
New traditions
This section needs additional citations for verification. (May 2020) |
In the 21st century, many girls create their own quinceañera celebrations. Whereas traditional dresses were formal and usually white dresses only and are now more varied.
Adult quinceañeras
Since 2018, there has been a trend going around involving quinceañeras because nowadays there are Latin American adults celebrating their birthdays with the quinceañera they never had at 15.[18] As times have changed over the years, quinceañeras have changed from mother-daughter dances to hiring professional dancers as chambelanes to party themes incorporating pop culture (for example a Harry Potter quince), so the parties have evolved to fit individuals' personalities and circumstances.[19] Many Latina women celebrated their dream celebrations as adults because they never had theirs due to financial problems, pressure from parents or family emergencies.[20] Kirkus Reviews calls Argentinian American author Yamile Saied Méndez's 2022 novel Twice a Quinceañera: A Delightful Second Chance Romance "enchanting." The story tells how "After breaking off a five-year engagement, a young woman embarks on a quest for self-love by throwing herself a Double Quinceañera for her 30th birthday."[21]
See also
- Rite of passage
- Confirmation
- Cotillion ball
- Debutante
- Sweet sixteen (birthday)
- Las Mañanitas
- Bar and bat mitzvah
- Cug Huê Hng
- Philippine debut
References
Notes
- ISBN 978-0-470752067.
- ^ "Fifteen Questions on the Quinceañera". U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011.
- ^ "Quinceanera: History of a Tradition". Department of Political Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Archived from the original on 29 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-576072066.
- ^ a b "The Quinceañera Celebration — The Changing Face of Mexico". www.learnnc.org. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
- ^ Encinias, Shahrazad. "Inside a quinceanera: Family, friends pitch in to help out". The Washington Times. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
- McGraw Hill. pp. 151–157.
- ^ Härkönen, Heidi (July 2011). "Girls' 15-Year Birthday Celebration as Cuban Women's Space Outside of the Revolutionary State". Journal of the Association of Social Anthropologists. 4 (1). Retrieved 14 October 2017.
- ^ Almand, Ray. "A Quinceañera in Quito; Transition into Womanhood And a Big Fiesta for All". Live Well Ecuador. Archived from the original on 1 June 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
- Spiegel Online(in German). Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ "Quinceañera Terms". Beverly Clark Enterprises. 2008. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
- ISBN 978-0-073512303.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-101213407.
- ISBN 978-0-321394170.
- ^ Aguilar, Valerie D. (2012). "Fiesta de Quinceaños". BellaOnline. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- ^ Cantú, Norma E. & Nájera-Ramírez, Olga, eds. (2002). Chicana Traditions: Continuity and Change. University of Illinois Press.
- ^ Gonzalez, Marybel (4 June 2016). "The Quinceañera, a Rite of Passage in Transition". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
- ^ Nahmad, Erica (22 March 2020). "Reinterpreting the Modern Quinceañera". BELatina.
- ^ "We Talked to 7 People Who Turned Their 30th Birthday Party Into a Doble Quinceañera". Remezcla.
- ^ Garcia, Tess. "30 Is the New 15: Inside the Burgeoning World of Doble Quinceañeras". www.refinery29.com.
- ^ Twice A Quinceañera.
{{cite book}}
:|website=
ignored (help)
Bibliography
- Alvarez, Julia (2007). Once Upon a Quinceañera: Coming of Age in the USA. New York City: Viking. ISBN 978-0-670-03873-2.
- Mitchell, Claudia & Reid-Walsh, Jacqueline (2008). Girl Culture: Studying Girl Culture – A Readers' Guide. ABC-CLIO. pp. 493–496. )
- Stavans, Ilans, ed. (2010). Quinceañera. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-0-313-35824-1.
External links
- Media related to Quinceañeras at Wikimedia Commons
- Films and videos of Texas Quinceañeras at Texas Archive of the Moving Image