Quince Años
- Time For a Fiesta! |
 The Quinceañera or Quince Anos is a young woman's celebration of her fifteenth birthday
and acknowledges her transition from childhood to womanhood.
It is a
significant passage for adolescent girls in almost all
cultures. From a north-of-the-border viewpoint, it may
be seen as a cross between Sweet Sixteen and a
debutante's coming out party. Simply stated, the
celebration is a way to acknowledge that a young woman
has reached sexual maturity and is thus of a
marriageable age. Regardless of how the tradition
originated and in spite of the relentless commercialism of
our culture today, the celebration of the quinceañera
remains as a rite of passage that keeps the bonds of the
family firmly cemented. |
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The Quinceañera began as a blended tradition between the Spanish conquerors as they mixed with the native people in Mexico. They blended the coming of age traditions and ceremonies of the native people with their religion. When the Spaniards arrived, the majority were Catholics and the missionaries tried to maintain some of the Quince traditions but with more of a religious significance. | |
| How is the the Quince celebrated in the United States? | With the large population of Latino people in all areas of the United States, the Quinceanera celebration is becoming common almost everywhere. However, the ways that it is celebrated can differ greatly depending on location, family tradition, and religion. There are some traditions that seem to be practiced almost everywhere, like the changing of the shoes, the first dance and the wearing of a traditional Quince Gown. However, all other aspects of the Quinceanera have become subject to the young girl and her family wishes. Some families have a Quinceañera just to have a big party. For other families, it is a deeply religious event and the young lady needs to have maintained a certain standard of modesty and behavior to be given the privilege of having a Quinceañera. Traditionally,
once the Quinceanera ceremony is over, a girl is then allowed to work, do
volunteer work and even get married.
In South Texas, the Quinceanera-Sweet
Fifteen is a much celebrated event. Huge quantities of delicious food and
festive party music are everywhere in a big hall. The celebrant and her court wear formal Quinceanera Gowns with
traditional Quinceanera accessories such as the tiara and
scepter. The
party hall is adorned with
brilliant and colorful Quince decorations to highlight the special theme.
A Quinceañera typically starts early in the evening and lasts till after midnight.
It is traditional for the Quince girl to choose special friends
to participate in what is called the Court of Honor. Usually
these people are her closest friends, sisters, brothers, cousins
- all those she wants to share the special moment with. The
formal celebration is steeped in tradition. From the
deeply serious Catholic Mass, to the changing of the shoes to the presentation of the ceremonial Quince gifts
and Quince favors....., the historical significance is unmistakable.
The quinceañera traditionally has the option of further
celebrating the occasion with a fiesta (birthday bash) which
includes live band music and lots of dancing. Often the families
will lease banquet halls for the dance. To cover the multiple
expenses, a host of padrinos and madrinas may be invited to
sponsor, respectively, the dress, the music, the locale, the
bar, the cake and the table favors. While raucous music tends to
dominate the event, the culminating moment comes when the
celebrant and her number-one chambelán (escort) dance to a
traditional waltz. Other indispensable highlights include a
customary toast and the cutting of a multi-tiered birthday cake.
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