Quinceañera
A Quinceañera is the biggest celebration for any Mexican or Mexican-American teenager turning 15 years old. This celebration takes place to celebrate the transition of the girl to a young woman. Sweet sixteen and Bar Mitzvahs are similar to a Quinceañera, but of course with different traditions. There is a lot of planning involved in this party, and there is a lot of money spent on the dress, food, music, and decorations. Quinceañeras are a big part of my family’s tradition, and the whole tradition starts with all the planning. The very first and most important part of the planning is reserving the church for the morning before the party. This involves decorations and preparing the girl for the religious ceremony. After the reservation is done, usually the next thing would be choosing the dress, then finally getting everything planned for the party.
On the morning of the celebration the quinceañera gets her hair and make-up done, then changes into her dress for the mass being held in her honor. She enters the church along with her Chambelán(partner), and the court that accompanies her throughout the whole day. At the church the quinceañera receives a tiara, bracelet, ring, cross or necklace, and a bible with a rosary. These items are brought in along with a special pillow with her name, on which she kneels on for the mass. The mass is so the quinceañera keeps a close relationship with god and an encouraging message from the priest about growing up and being mature. After the mass there is a lunch where everyone attends and eats together. This is the part that no one misses out on.
After everyone eats there are pictures before the party and little keepsakes with the quinceañera’s name and the date of her Quinceañera. Usually there is a band that will play from about six in the afternoon to one or two in the morning. Some quinceañeras also have a DJ. The quinceañera makes her grand entrance with her court and her Chambelán (dancing partner). Most...