Why Is Quinceanera Important

A quinceanera is the celebration of a fifteen year old girl’s birthday that is celebrated in Hispanic cultures. This birthday is a very special birthday from all the other birthdays because it marks a girl’s transition from childhood to young adulthood. It is a social and religious event that emphasizes the importance of society and family in a young woman’s life. The celebration isn’t just about celebrating the girl for her maturity. It is also about celebrating the girl’s family as well as her godparents. The origin of the quinceanera came from the Aztecs, the Mayas, the Incas, and the Toltecs. They had to celebrations in order to shape up their teenagers into adulthood. Once the girls reached a certain age, they were separated from the

Then a reception is held in either the girl’s home or a banquet hall. The festivities of a Quinceanera includes food, music, and dancing. It is tradition that the girl chooses a Court of Honor. The Court of Honor usually consists of her close friends, brothers, sisters, and cousins. The Quinceanera as the girl who is the spotlight of this event is called, usually wears a fancy ballgown. The Court of Honor wears gowns and tuxedos. There are also traditional events that occur during a Quinceanera. One of these events is called the Changing of The Shoes. This is where the father takes off the girl’s flat shoes and replaces them with high heels. This symbolizes the girl’s transformation from a young girl to a young adult. At the reception, they always have a toast to the Quinceanera, also known as the Brindis. The Last Doll is another traditional ceremony that occurs at a Quinceanera. This is where the Quinceanera passes down her doll to her younger sibling. This symbolizes that she is leaving all of her childhood items behind now that she is a young lady. The Quinceanera also receives traditional gifts at the event. These traditional ceremony gifts include a tiara, a cross or medal, a Bible, and a scepter. These gifts all have a special meaning for the Quinceanera, they symbolize loyalty, commitment to God, family, and