Quinceañera!

Traditional quinceañera song | A sample Mexican quinceañera buffet menu

The word quinceañera comes from the Spanish words quince, which means fifteen, and años which means years. It is a celebration of a girl's fifteenth birthday. Well, really, it is a celebration of much more than that. A quinceañera marks the transition from childhood to womanhood—a significant passage for adolescent girls in almost all cultures. It is a time in a female's life when she is no longer a child and is ready to make her contribution to society as an adult-bringing in an income, preparing food, marrying, and having children. In short, more privileges are granted and more responsibilities are expected. These days, instead of being considered to be ready for marriage, girls are often given permission to begin dating.

Quinceañeras are very significant parts of cultural, community, and family life in Mexico. Regardless of how wealthy or poor a family is, this passage is marked by some sort of celebration. Although quinceañeras are known for their lively dancing parties, the most important part of the celebration is actually the Misa de acción de gracias (thanksgiving Mass).

During the mass, a girl gives thanks for the many blessings she has received in her life from her parents, family, friends, teachers, and community. Often times the birthday girl is required to attend a preparation class at her church. During the class, the priest challenges the quinceañera and the members of her court (a group of close friends-14 boys and 14 girls—each representing a year in the girl's life) "to examine their ideas and beliefs and discover their strengths. As the teens reflect on their lives and their values, they come away with a better appreciation of the changes that are going on in them and around them." (Salcedo 1997:15)

The Misa de acción de gracias is the first thing a quinceañera does on her birthday. Once the spiritual ceremony is over, the social part of the quinceañera begins. While the mass included an audience of close relatives and friends, the social part includes distant acquaintances, close friends, and everyone in between. All are invited to celebrate your becoming a woman. There is music and dancing all night.

Many Latinas in the U.S. and throughout Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean celebrate their quince años. During the mass, the quinceañera is presented with a crown, corona, that symbolizes her importance in God's eyes. Eva has made many coronas for quinceañeras on their special day.

(See Salcedo, Michele. 1997. Quinceañera! New York: Henry Holt)

Traditional Quinceañera song
(special thanks to Elena Martínez, City Lore, for the English translation)

 



Los Dandy's Linda Quinceanera Los Dandy's Pretty Quinceanera
Ha llegado el día
que tanto esperabas
la fecha bendita
que no olvidaras
 The long-awaited the day has arrived
the blessed date
that you won't forget
Hoy cumples quince años
dulce muñequita
tus sueños dorados
ya son realidad
 Today you are 15 years old
Sweet little doll
your golden dreams
are now reality
Antes eras niña
mi niña chiquita
hoy ya señorita
de la sociedad
 Before you were a girl
my little girl
today you are a lady
of society
No hay nada en el mundo
cosa más bonita
que ver tu carita
de felicidad
 There is nothing prettier in the world
than your happy little face
Y recuerda siempre
estos quince años
que a tu vida nunca jamás volverán
 And always remember
these 15 years
of your life will never, never return
Y recuerda siempres
que todos gozamos cuando tu bailaste
al compás de este vals.		 And always remember
that we all enjoyed
when you danced to the rhythm of the waltz
Eeres una niña eres una diosa
eres tan hermosa
tan angelical		 You are a girl
You are a goddess
You are so beautiful
so angelic
Al cielo pedimos tan solo una cosa
que seas muy dichosa
una eternidad. 		We ask heaven only one thing
that you will be happy
for eternity.

Sample Mexican Quinceañera buffet menu

Although quinceañeras can be quite elaborate and expensive, they don't have to be. The most important part of the ceremony is celebrating the sacred transition from girlhood to womanhood with family and friends—and you can do that as simply or as extravagently as you can manage.

Below is a sample Mexican Quinceañera buffet menu from Michele Salcedo's book, Quinceañera! Every Latin American country serves it's cultural and regional specialities so menus differ considerably.

* Guacamole (avocado sauce)
* Pico de gallo
 * Tostaditos
* Mole poblano
 * Frijoles refritos (refried beans)
* A relish of jalapeños, carrots, and onions
* Arroz (rice)
* Tamales
 * Ensalada mixta (mixed salad)
* Pastel (cake)
* Jarascas (cookies)