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InLatin American cultures, it is customary to celebrate a girl's 15th birthday. InSpanish, the girl celebrating her 15th birthday is called aquinceañera;[a] in English, primarily in the United States,quinceañera[b] is used to refer to the celebrations and honors surrounding the special occasion. The Spanish names for the celebration can be literally translated to English as the 'celebration of the 15-year-old' (fiesta de quinceañera,fiesta de quince años), '15 years' (quince años,quinceañero) or just '15' (quinces).[1]
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Contemporary festivities combineCatholic traditions from oldSpain with the traditions of indigenous heritages of pre-Columbian Mexico, along with a few modern twists, and rely heavily on European influence from the period of theSecond Mexican Empire.[2] For example, in ancient Mexico, theAztecs and other indigenous peoples had many different ceremonies to mark the passage through the various stages of life. Thequinceañera marked a young woman's transition to adulthood, as she was presented, as a virgin, to the community for probable suitors.[3] Other origin stories attribute quinceañera history to theDuchess of Alba in Spain, who hosted aball at her palace and invited adolescent girls to attend in formal clothes.[4]This tradition would continue and was reinforced when EmpressCarlota of Mexico, granddaughter of theLouis Philippe I of France, threw a similar reception for her court inMexico City—presenting young women as eligible for marriage. The traditions of the quinceañera wearing elaborate ball gowns, utilizing courtly European social customs, and ballroom dancing coincides with the styles and customs of the period of the Second Mexican Empire, which was an extension of the European royal courts of the time.[2]
In a traditional Mexicanquinceañera, young women and men have roles as formaldamas andchambelanes, who perform special bends at the celebration, along with thequinceañera herself. There is also a "man of honor" who accompanies the young woman. Potential suitors present gifts to her family to make up adowry or bridal wealth. Prior to her being given away, the women of the community participate by instructing thequinceañera in her duties and responsibilities, urging her to follow the correct path, by remaining true to her people and their traditions throughout her life.[5]
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The meaning behind thequinceañera 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, thequinceañera 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, thequinceañera 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 celebratedquinceañeras with big parties and elaborate dresses. In Latin American countries, wealthy families announcedquinceañeras in the newspapers to publicize their extravagant celebrations.[citation needed]
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.[6] From a simple food and cake celebration, it has developed among wealthier families to become an occasion for a big party. Families may use event planners, and develop a celebration with a theme, to be staged with a special entrance and dances, and captured by professionalphotoshoots and video. Modernquinceañera celebrations also incorporate traditions from other cultures. Markets for event planners andquinceañera-related products have developed.[7]
This celebration is different from any other event marking a person's birthday, since it marks the transition fromchildhood to youngwomanhood.[8] Scholar Yyonne Vissing said that this celebration may begin "with a religious ceremony," is followed by a party featuring food, music, dancing, and fancy dressing, and called it a tradition which "celebrates a young girl’s journey from childhood to maturity."[9] Historically, in the years prior to their 15th birthdays, girls learned about cooking, weaving, and childbearing from the elder women in their communities in preparation for their future roles as wives. During the celebration the girl's father would present her to potential suitors.[10]
In the past, parallel customs could be found inSouthern Europe, mainly Spain and France. Today, the custom remains strongest inMexico, its likely country of introduction during theviceregal orMexican imperial periods. However, it is widely celebrated in Spanish-speaking countries in the Americas. The grandest parties are comparable to British and Americandebutante balls.[11] The celebrations themselves vary significantly in different countries; for example, the festivities in some have taken on more religious overtones than in others. Nowadays, thequinceañera is also celebrated by manyLatino Americans in the United States, each according to their traditions.[12]
In Brazil, a Portuguese-speaking country, a similar celebration is calledfesta de debutantes,baile de debutantes, orfesta de quinze anos.[13][14][15] In theFrench Caribbean andFrench Guiana, it is calledfête des quinze ans, a term which is also used to refer to similar ceremonies inMexico City's historic center.[16][17]
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InCuba, the party may include a choreographed group dance, in which 14 couples waltz around thequinceañera, who is accompanied by one of the main dancers, a boy of her choice, or her boyfriend. The choreography often includes four or six dancers or escorts called experts, who are allowed to dance around thequinceañera. They are usually inexperienced dancers whose function is to highlight the central couple. The male dancers are also allowed to weartuxedos in different colors.
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 ofquinceañeras, which they calledquinces. 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 theladies carry candles. As thequinceañera 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, thequinceañera will blow out her last candle, thus completing her 15 wishes. The flowers are given to her mother.[18]
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In Colombia, thequince 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.[19] Thequinceañera birthday girl next dances with her brothers (if any) and their uncles and godparents. Then she performs thepasodoble 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 atiara 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 ala 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 thequinceañera 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'squinceañera. The event can cost as much as a year's wages, and many take up debt to be able to pay for it.[20]
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InFrench Guiana and theFrench Caribbean, the celebration is known asfête des quinze ans. It follows a similar structure.
In Mexico, thequinceañera is adorned with elegant jewelry andmakeup. By tradition, this was to be the first time she would wear makeup in public, but in the 21st century, girls start using makeup at an earlier age.[21] Thequinceañera is also expected to wear a formal evening dress, traditionally a long, elegant ball gown chosen by the girl and most often, her mother, according to her favorite color and style.
In the Mexican Catholic tradition, thequinceañera celebration begins with a thanksgivingMass.[22] She arrives at church accompanied by her parents, godparents, and court of honor. The court of honor is a group of her chosen peers consisting of paired-off girls and boys, respectively known asdamas (dames) andchambelanes (chamberlains). Typically, the court consists of pairs ranging from 7 to 15damas andchambelanes. It is also okay for the quinceañera to choose to have only damas or only chambelanes in her court.[23] At this religious mass, aRosary, or sometimes a necklace with alocket orpendant depicting Mexico's patron saint, theVirgin of Guadalupe, is presented to the teenager by hergodparents, the necklace or rosary having been previously blessed by the priest. She is also awarded atiara, which serves as a reminder that to her loved ones, especially her immediate family, thequinceañera will always be a princess. Some also see it as denoting that she is a "princess" before God and the world. After this, the girl may leave her bouquet of flowers on the altar for theVirgin Mary.[24]
After the thanksgiving mass, guests gather for a celebratory reception where the events to honor thequinceañera will take place, including giving gifts. This reception may be held at thequinceañera's home, at venues (such asdining halls,banquet halls, orcasinos), or in some cases, in more public places, similar to ablock party. During the reception, the birthday girl usually dances a traditionalwaltz with her father to a song chosen by both that speaks about the occasion and their relationship. A popular waltz song traditionally played during the dance isTiempo de Vals byChayanne. Then her father passes her to thechambelán de honor, her chosen escort, and afterward they continue the dance with the rest of her court of honor. Often this section of the celebration is previously practiced and/or choreographed, often weeks in advance, sometimes even with months of anticipation.[25]
The basic reception has six major parts[26] with dances taking place while a traditional Mexican meal is served:
Traditionally, Mexican girls could not dance in public until they turned 15, except at school dances or at family events. So the waltz with herchambelanes is choreographed and elaborate to celebrate what was meant to be thequinceañera'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 thequinceañera with her first pair ofhigh heel shoes;[27] the Crowning ceremony, in which a close relative places a crown on her head;[28] andceremonia de la última muñeca (literally "ceremony of the last doll"), during which her father presents her with a doll usually wearing a dress similar to thequinceañera.[28] The ceremony of the last doll is based on aMaya tradition; it is related to the birthday girl's later giving up of the doll as she grows into womanhood.[29]
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 arecalentado (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.[30]
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.
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While in most of theUnited States it is customary to celebrate asweet sixteen, aquinceañera is common amongst the largeMexican American population from California to Florida, as well as within the other Hispanic communities throughout the country andPuerto Rico. Quinceañeras were noted to be celebrated in the mid- to late 1970s in Los Angeles and San Diego and in the early 1980s in different parts of Texas. Though they may not have been widespread, many working-class families could affordquinceañeras because thepadrinos andpadrones pitch in for the costs. In recent years,[when?]quinceañeras have gained popularity in the United States. Books and other publications aboutquinceañeras distributed in the United States increasingly include English versions to the original works in Spanish. This shows the increasing influence of Hispanic and Latino culture within the broader American culture.[31] The increasing popularity of the celebration has begun to lead to an uptick in retailers and businesses catering directly to young Hispanic or Latina women.[32]
In Argentina, the "fiesta de 15"[33] follows a similar structure but without the Mexican chambelanes or dances. There is also an "after twelve list" where people who aren't that close with the quinceañera can come into the party and enjoy it but without being part of the symbolical experience of the fiesta de 15.
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In the 21st century, many girls create their ownquinceañera celebrations. Whereas traditional dresses were formal and usually white dresses only and are now more varied.[3] Also, instead of having the traditional sevendamas and sevenchambelanes, thequinceañera may pick alldamas or allchambelanes. Traditionally, girls were not allowed to dance in public until turning 15, but this taboo has also receded significantly. The ceremony of the Changing of the Shoes has also been modified. Instead of wearing slippers before ceremonially exchanging them forhigh heels, a girl may decide to wear shoes compatible with the color and style of her dress instead of donning the traditional slippers.[34]
Several Latin-American celebrities had quinceañeras growing up.[35]
Quinceañeras have been portrayed in many books,[53][54] movies, television shows, documentaries, plays, and online series,[55][56] like the 2006 filmQuinceañera, 2012 filmBeverly Hills Chihuahua 3: Viva la Fiesta!,[57] the 2012 filmMcFarland, USA,[58] 1990 filmSweet 15, the 1987 Mexicantelenovela entitledQuinceañera (which later inspiredMiss XV), the 2006 programQuiero Mis Quinces, and thereality television seriesMy Super Sweet 16. One masters thesis stated that there is "no shortage" of visual media focusing on quinceañeras and asserted that the latter is "traditionally something of a spectacle...[and] makes for good entertainment" while it is also a "unique and...meaningful expression of ethnic heritage and maturation."[59]
Other series have stand-alone episodes centered on quinceañeras, including live-action TV series centered on food, such asTop Chef,[60]Cake Boss,[61]Dinner: Impossible,[62] had episodes centering on quinceañeras. Series with similar episodes includeAustin & Ally,[63]The Fosters,[64]George Lopez,[65]Jack Ryan[66]Sesame Street,[67] andSuperman & Lois.[68] Additionally, animated series such asElena of Avalor,[69]Hailey's On It!,[70]The Owl House,[71]The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder,[72]The Casagrandes,[73] andDora the Explorer[74] have included episodes centering on quinceañeras.
Since 2018, there has been a trend going around involvingquinceañeras because nowadays there are Latin American adults celebrating their birthdays with thequinceañera they never had at 15.[75] 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 superhero quince), so the parties have evolved to fit individuals' personalities and circumstances.[76] Many Latina women celebrated their dream celebrations as adults because they never had theirs due to financial problems, pressure from parents or family emergencies.[77] When celebrating a 30th birthday, it may be called a doble quinceañera.[78]
Argentinian-American authorYamile Saied Méndez's 2022 novelTwice a Quinceañera: A Delightful Second Chance Romance portrays "a young woman [who] embarks on a quest for self-love by throwing herself a Double Quinceañera for her 30th birthday."[79]
On September 10, 2023, a woman from Oakley, California had a Disney Princess-and-the-Frog-themed quinceañera-esque celebration for her sixtieth birthday after a diabetic condition almost severely impacted her health and caused her to question whether she'd make it to sixty.[80][81]
Notes
With Latino families, your primos are who you play with when you go to the fiestas, the quinceañeras, when you go to the birthday parties. They become your best friends growing up.
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