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It has been known that when girls, as well as boys reach a certain age they make a transition from childhood to adulthood. This type of transition may also be called a right of passage, which signifies a person is ready to move into a new stage in their lives. These rites of passages are given special titles that have an enormous symbolic meaning per culture. For example, according to Mary D. Lankford in her book A Latinas Journey to Womanhood, she talks about the right of passage for a thirteen year old jewish boy which is called bar mitzvah and the similar right of passage for the jewish girl called the bat mitzvah. Another widely celebrated right of passage by Latino families around the world is the Quinceanera.
A Quinceanera is the celebration of a girls fifteenth birthday. Mary D. Lankford says: After the Spanish conquered the Aztecs in 1521, the traditions of their Catholic religion meshed with the initiation rites of the Aztecs. As these rites continued to develop, the age of fifteen marked a time of decision for young women. This is where Quinceanera originated and became a special occasion.
The difference between a Quinceanera and any other birthday party is that it is fancier and you invite more people. Planning for a Quinceanera takes about a year. The girl celebrating has to do many things during the year to prepare for this celebration. She has to pick a partner which is known as an escort, along with a court of honor, which is fourteen couples each representing one year of her life.
The girl with her parents has to pick the type of music that will be played and the food and beverages that will be served. She also needs to get her dress and pick out the dresses for the girls in her court of honor. The guys just wear tuxedos. This preparation is similar to a wedding. After many months of preparation the big event takes place.
The first thing you do on this day is go to church. You invite your close relatives and close friends. The priest talks to you about becoming a woman. According to Mary D. Lankford the Quinceanera mass is more than a religious service it is the reaffirmation of promises of religious faith. Once the spiritual ceremony is over you move on to the social part of the Quinceanera.
This is usually held in a hall in the evening where all invited guests come to celebrate the Quinceanera's. becoming of a woman. This is where you celebrate by having a band play live music and dance all night. Everyone that is invited to the celebration waits anxiously for the big entrance of the Quinceanera.
The court of honor comes out first and then the Quinceanera with her escort, followed by her parents. The Quinceanera's mother carries a satin pillow with a pair of high heels on top. The Quinceanera sits on a high chair at this time her father changes her shoes to the high heels from the satin pillow. This symbolizes the move from childhood to adulthood. After the change of the shoes the Quinceanera dances the first dance with her father, she then switches to dance with her partner. The court of honor follows in the dance.
After the dance is over the guests are invited to go and dance. Through out the night everyone dances and eats. As the night ends the guests leave and get a special memory to take home, which could be a pin with the date and the Quinceanera's name. In conclusion, a Quinceanera is a very special time in a young girls life where she takes her first steps in a journey toward adulthood and a new life. Bibliography Lankford, D.
Mary. Quinceanera: A Latinas Journey to Women hood. Connecticut: The Millbrook Press, 1994
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