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countries toggle in specific countries subsection 3 1 cuba 3 2 colombia 3 3 french guiana and french caribbean 3 4 mexico 3 5 spain 3 6 united states 3 7 argentina 4 new traditions 5 celebrities who had quinceañeras 6 in popular culture 7 see also 8 notes 9 references 10 external links toggle the table of contents quinceañera 19 languages অসমীয়া dansk deutsch español فارسی français bahasa indonesia italiano 日本語 한국어 bahasa melayu nederlands norsk bokmål polski русский simple english српски srpski svenska українська edit links article talk english read edit view history tools tools move to sidebar hide actions read edit view history general what links here related changes upload file permanent link page information cite this page get shortened url switch to legacy parser print export download as pdf printable version in other projects wikimedia commons wikidata item appearance move to sidebar hide from wikipedia the free encyclopedia celebration of a girl s 15th birthday for other uses see quinceañera disambiguation this article needs more citations please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources unsourced material may be challenged and removed find sources quinceañera news newspapers books scholar jstor may 2020 learn how and when to remove this message mexican american girls at a quinceañera celebration in santa fe new mexico a quinceañera a in spanish or quinceañera b in the united states is a coming of age celebration in latin american cultures for a girl s 15th birthday the spanish names for the celebration can be literally translated to english as the celebration of the 15 year old fiesta de quinceañera fiesta de quince años 15 years quince años quinceañero or just 15 quince 1 practices or traditions for the event can vary across different cultures and can take on religious overtones but typically involve food dancing music and the girl of honor wearing a tiara history edit this section needs more citations please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources unsourced material may be challenged and removed may 2020 learn how and when to remove this message contemporary festivities combine catholic traditions from old spain with the traditions of indigenous heritages of pre columbian mexico along with a few modern twists and rely heavily on european influence from the period of the second mexican empire 2 for example in ancient mexico the aztecs and other indigenous peoples had many different ceremonies to mark the passage through the various stages of life the quinceañera marked a young woman s transition to adulthood as she was presented as a virgin to the community for probable suitors 3 other origin stories attribute quinceañera history to the duchess of alba in spain who hosted a ball at her palace and invited adolescent girls to attend in formal clothes 4 this tradition continued and was reinforced when empress carlota of mexico granddaughter of the louis philippe i of france threw a similar reception for her court in mexico city presenting young women as eligible for marriage the traditions of the quinceañera wearing elaborate ball gowns utilizing courtly european social customs and ballroom dancing coincides with the styles and customs of the period of the second mexican empire which was an extension of the european royal courts of the time 2 in a traditional mexican quinceañera young women and men have roles as formal damas and chambelanes who perform special bends at the celebration along with the quinceañera herself there is also a man of honor who accompanies the young woman potential suitors present gifts to her family to make up a dowry or bridal wealth prior to her being given away the women of the community participate by instructing the quinceañera in her duties and responsibilities urging her to follow the correct path by remaining true to her people and their traditions throughout her life 5 the meaning behind the quinceañera has become more refined over time and varies between different regions in rural societies girls were considered ready for marriage once they turned 15 in the 20th century the quinceañera received certain privileges associated with womanhood permission to attend adult parties pluck her eyebrows and shave her legs wear makeup jewelry and high heels when this tradition originated the quinceañera was a small party to celebrate the transition friends and family gathered in order to give the girl a chance to mingle with young men rich families celebrated quinceañeras with big parties and elaborate dresses and sent announcements to newspapers to publicize the event citation needed in the 1960s immigrants to the united states brought the quinceañera with them affluent immigrants who had formerly been poor were able to have big parties like those in their home country family and friends often help put on the event for example by making food 6 from a simple food and cake celebration it has developed among wealthier families to become an occasion for a big party families may use event planners and develop a celebration with a theme to be staged with a special entrance and dances and captured by professional photoshoots and video modern quinceañera celebrations also incorporate traditions from other cultures markets for event planners and quinceañera related products have developed 7 a fiesta de quince años at the church of san martin in san martín texmelucan puebla mexico methods of celebration edit this celebration is different from any other event marking a person s birthday since it marks the transition from childhood to young womanhood 8 scholar yyonne vissing said that this celebration may begin with a religious ceremony is followed by a party featuring food music dancing and fancy dressing and called it a tradition which celebrates a young girl s journey from childhood to maturity 9 historically in the years prior to their 15th birthdays girls learned about cooking weaving and childbearing from the elder women in their communities in preparation for their future roles as wives during the celebration the girl s father would present her to potential suitors 10 in the past parallel customs could be found in southern europe mainly spain and france today the custom remains strongest in mexico its likely country of introduction during the viceregal or mexican imperial periods however it is widely celebrated in spanish speaking countries in the americas the grandest parties are comparable to british and american debutante balls 11 the celebrations themselves vary significantly in different countries for example the festivities in some have taken on more religious overtones than in others nowadays the quinceañera is also celebrated by many latino americans in the united states each according to their traditions 12 in brazil a portuguese speaking country a similar celebration is called festa de debutantes baile de debutantes or festa de quinze anos 13 14 15 in the french caribbean and french guiana it is called fête des quinze ans a term which is also used to refer to similar ceremonies in mexico city s historic center 16 17 in specific countries edit cuba edit in cuba the party may include a choreographed group dance in which 14 couples waltz around the quinceañera who is accompanied by one of the main dancers a boy of her choice or her boyfriend the choreography often includes four or six dancers or escorts called experts who are allowed to dance around the quinceañera they are usually inexperienced dancers whose function is to highlight the central couple the male dancers are also allowed to wear tuxedos in different colors fifteenth birthday celebrations were very popular in cuba until the late 1970s this practice partly entered cuba via spain but the greatest influence was the french citation needed the wealthy families who could afford to rent expensive dining rooms in private clubs or hotels of four and five stars held celebrations that were the precursors of quinceañeras which they called quinces these celebrations usually took place in the house of the girl or the more spacious house of a relative another tradition commonly found in cuba is to have 14 ladies and 14 escorts sometimes 7 each as a court the escorts hold flowers usually roses and the ladies carry candles as the quinceañera dances the waltz with her father she blows out one candle then picks up one rose this continues until she has blown out all the candles and picked up all the roses the 14 candles blown out represent her 14 previous years and with each she makes a wish when the time comes to cut the cake the quinceañera will blow out her last candle thus completing her 15 wishes the flowers are given to her mother 18 colombia edit in colombia the quince starts with the arrival of the teenage girl accompanied by her father she is received by her mother and other relatives and friends father and daughter dance a waltz and other tunes 19 the quinceañera birthday girl next dances with her brothers if any and their uncles and godparents then she performs the pasodoble and the waltz with all members of the procession then optional dances to other music such as merengue or pop for this occasion the teenager wears an evening dress in light colors or pastels is dressed and made up slightly and usually places a tiara in her hair and jewels on her neck and hands all the guests dress in formal attire including the teenager s peers after the first dance the teenager and her friends have a dance then the festival begins with music from live bands some famous artists djs food drink and at one late point of the night a la hora loca clarification needed is carried out in which the attendants wear masks or funny wigs and make noise with whistles and rattles while fast tempo music is played it is optional to make some surprise dance performed by the quinceañera birthday girl alone or accompanied and a dance that will give away her friends cousins and others the custom s social significance is such that even poor families tend to spend lavishly on a daughter s quinceañera the event can cost as much as a year s wages and many take up debt to be able to pay for it 20 french guiana and french caribbean edit in french guiana and the french caribbean the celebration is known as fête des quinze ans it follows a similar structure mexico edit in mexico the quinceañera is adorned with elegant jewelry and makeup by tradition this was to be the first time she would wear makeup in public but in the 21st century girls start using makeup at an earlier age 21 the quinceañera is also expected to wear a formal evening dress traditionally a long elegant ball gown chosen by the girl and most often her mother according to her favorite color and style a mexican quinceañera celebration in the mexican catholic tradition the quinceañera celebration begins with a thanksgiving mass 22 she arrives at church accompanied by her parents godparents and court of honor the court of honor is a group of her chosen peers consisting of paired off girls and boys respectively known as damas dames and chambelanes chamberlains typically the court consists of pairs ranging from 7 to 15 damas and chambelanes it is also okay for the quinceañera to choose to have only damas or only chambelanes in her court 23 at this religious mass a rosary or sometimes a necklace with a locket or pendant depicting mexico s patron saint the virgin of guadalupe is presented to the teenager by her godparents the necklace or rosary having been previously blessed by the priest she is also awarded a tiara which serves as a reminder that to her loved ones especially her immediate family the quinceañera will always be a princess some also see it as denoting that she is a princess before god and the world after this the girl may leave her bouquet of flowers on the altar for the virgin mary 24 after the thanksgiving mass guests gather for a celebratory reception where the events to honor the quinceañera will take place including giving gifts this reception may be held at the quinceañera s home at venues such as dining halls banquet halls or casinos or in some cases in more public places similar to a block party during the reception the birthday girl usually dances a traditional waltz with her father to a song chosen by both that speaks about the occasion and their relationship 25 a popular waltz song traditionally played during the dance is tiempo de vals by chayanne then her father passes her to the chambelán de honor her chosen escort and afterward they continue the dance with the rest of her court of honor often this section of the celebration is previously practiced and or choreographed often weeks in advance sometimes even with months of anticipation 26 the basic reception has six major parts 27 with dances taking place while a traditional mexican meal is served the formal entry la entrada a grand entrance made by the quinceañera once most guests have been seated the formal toast el brindis an optional but usually featured part of the reception generally initiated by the parents or godparents of the birthday girl the first dance usually a waltz where the girl dances starting with her father the family dance usually a waltz involving just the immediate relatives the chambelanes godparents and the closest friends of the girl the preferred song baile sorpresa any modern song particularly enjoyed by the quinceañera is played and danced the general dance also usually a traditional waltz traditionally mexican girls could not dance in public until they turned 15 except at school dances or at family events so the waltz with her chambelanes is choreographed and elaborate to celebrate what was meant to be the quinceañera s first public dance a quinceañera with chambelanes some families may choose to add a ceremonial components to the celebration depending on local customs among them are the ceremony of the change of shoes in which a family member presents the quinceañera with her first pair of high heel shoes 28 the crowning ceremony in which a close relative places a crown on her head 29 and ceremonia de la última muñeca literally ceremony of the last doll during which her father presents her with a doll usually wearing a dress similar to the quinceañera 29 the ceremony of the last doll is based on a maya tradition it is related to the birthday girl s later giving up of the doll as she grows into womanhood 30 once all symbolic gestures have taken place the dinner is begun at this point the celebration reaches its peak live musical groups begin playing music keeping the guests entertained the music is played while the guests dine chat mingle and dance the next morning the family and closest friends may also attend a special breakfast especially if they are staying with the family sometimes what is known as a recalentado re warming takes place in which any food not consumed during the event of the night before is warmed again for a brunch type event 31 spai...
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