About Quinceaneras
One of the most important moments in a Hispanic girl's life is her quinceanera. A quinceanera ("quince" means fifteen and "anos" means year) is a special celebration that commemorates her fifteenth birthday as the time when she leaves childhood behind and enters womanhood. There are both spiritual and secular aspects to a quinceanera, and as many ways to celebrate it as there are special young women.
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History
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In many cultural traditions of the ancient American people, girls went through a rite of passage where they were deemed completely educated in the ways of womanhood, from cooking and preparing food, to maintaining a home to becoming a wife and mother. Various coming-of-age rituals were held depending on the region, from the Aztecs in South America to the Maya in Central America. In Europe, a girl's coming of age was also celebrated, and became known as a debutante ball. An upper class European girl would be presented to society as eligible for marriage at her debutante party. When the Spanish arrived to colonize Central and South America, the traditions blended together and emerged as a celebration of a girl's fifteenth birthday. Today's quinceanera celebrations are about reaffirming a girl's faith, family ties and traditions, and the time is treated as a fairy tale come true for many.
Traditions
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While a quinceanera celebration can vary within a region and even from family to family, there are some core traditions that are generally found at every party. The girl always wears an elegant dress, usually abundant in lace and satin. She must choose a "court" consisting of 14 girls and 14 boys, plus her own escort. The celebration always begins with a Catholic Mass where the girl will wear a sweet headpiece that is later exchanged for a tiara. She is also given a scepter to hold. These symbolize her passage to maturity. After the Mass, the group moves to the celebration venue for the party. A dance with her father is expected of the young woman, as is a personal welcome and greeting to all the guests.
Time Frame
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Many families begin planning a quinceanera as much as 2 years in advance. Because many popular venues are booked solid for years at a time, it's a good idea to find a church, reception hall or hotel as soon as possible. Around 8 to 12 months before the girl's birthday, many start to choose a special dress, book a photographer and notify the "court" of their duties. From 4 to 5 months ahead of the event, the family usually starts to purchase decorations, invitations, party favors and drawing up a guest list. Two months before the party, the guest list is completed, invitations are sent out, music is selected and photographs taken. When there is a week to go, the family will check in with the vendors, plan a rehearsal, make seating charts and any last minute details.
Gifts
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There are certain gifts that a girl will receive at her qunceanera that are steeped in religious symbolism. The girl will receive a cross, a Bible and a new rosary to symbolize her faith in God. She will also receive a pair of earrings to encourage her to always listen to the teachings of God. Many girls receive a doll dressed in a matching elaborate quinceanera gown and wearing a ribbon with the girl's name and birth date. She may also receive a ring or bracelet to symbolize the circle of life and the eternal aspect of families. The girl will also keep the tiara and scepter given to her at the Mass as keepsakes of the special day.
Themes
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Modern quinceaneras are often as elaborate as wedding receptions, with top caterers, musicians and decorators contributing to the fairy-tale aspect of the celebration. It's common to plan the celebration around a particular theme, such as a princess, winter wonderland, Romeo and Juliet, or a flower or color scheme. Some girls want a more fun theme and choose a tropical party theme, a teddy bear theme or a Mardi Gras theme.
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