The Quinceanera

Remember Cinderella's ball? The heavenly moment when Romeo and Juliet first met? And the ball, where Darsy, Elizabeth, Jane and Bingley first eyed each other? Those beautiful pages of romantic hang over sowed its seed in the notion of La Quinceañera's debutante balls. Sometimes our romantic couples met in other's La Quinceañera too. 'Quinceañera' or 'Quince Anos' represents XV Anos, what actually means "fifteen Years". In some Spanish-speaking regions of the Americas, a young woman's celebration of her fifteenth birthday, which is celebrated in a unique and different way from her other birthdays are called Quinceañera.

In some countries, such as Puerto Rico or Peru, the word 'Quinceañero' is used instead of 'Quinceañera' when referring to the celebration. The word is also used to refer to the young woman whose 15th birthday is being celebrated (analogous to the word cumpleañera for "birthday girl"). The closest equivalents to the Quinceañera in the English-speaking world are the sweet sixteen or, in more affluent communities, a debutante romantic ball at the age of eighteen. In some cases, the birthday girl has a choice of a quinceañera, a trip, or a car. A girl steps forward from the childhood to womanhood that is the point of acknowledgment of a young adolescent maiden has reached maturity: this is all about the celebration of La Quinceañera. The celebration fore mostly holds the fact that the girl is ready to get married and this special occasion, sometimes are regarded ideal to chose the husband among the courts. The celebration traditionally begins with a religious ceremony. A reception is held in the home or a banquet hall. The festivities include food and music, and in most, a choreographed waltz or dance performed by the Quinceanera and her court.

The Quinceanera's court can be comprised of young girls (called a Dama), young men (called Chambelán or Escorte or Galán) or a combination of both - traditionally up to 14 persons in the court, which with the Quinceanera, would total 15 young people. The Quinceanera traditionally wears a ball gown, with her court usually dressed in gowns and tuxedos. Guests usually receive small tokens, cápias and cerámicas, to commemorate the celebration. It is customary for the Quinceanera to receive the following gifts for her ceremony:
tiara,
bracelet or ring,
earrings,
cross or medal or necklace, and
Bible or Prayer Book and Rosary.
Other accessories for this special occasion might be:
flower bouquet,
cake decoration,
engraved cake server set,
engraved champagne glasses,
Quinceanera doll,
scepter,
guest registry book,
remembrance photo album,
invitations/reception cards, and
kneeling pillow.

Some other traditions observed in the celebration include the giving and throwing of a quince doll. The display doll signifies the young lady's last doll as a child and the throwing doll, usually a Barbie type or any other is fine too, is thrown by the young lady to the other female children in attendance much as the garter is thrown in a wedding. The celebrant is wearing flats, or flat shoes for the celebration but after the inaugural dance the father of the young lady, who is sitting in a chair in the center of the dance floor, removes her flats (girls shoes) and puts her high heels on signifying her becoming a young lady. At the party the court does a waltz and a surprise dance. The girl also dances with her father but first changes from flats to heels to represent the first time she can wear them (the same with makeup). She could also get a doll with the exact same dress she has on to signify that this will be the last doll she ever will receive. In the past the party would show the girl is ready to be married, but now in today's culture it is so the girl can date.

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