1. La quinceañera
©2009 Teacher’s Discovery

2. What is it? The word quinceañera comes from two Spanish words:
quince meaning fifteen
and
años meaning years.
©2009 Teacher’s Discovery

3. English-Speaking Equivalents
Sweet Sixteen (16)
Bar or Bat Mitzvah (13)
The closest equivalents to the quinceañera in the English-speaking world are the sweet sixteen, Bar or Bat Mitzvah for Jewish children turning 13, cotillion, or in more affluent communities, the debutante ball for those who turn 18.
©2009 Teacher’s Discovery

4. A Celebration ©2009 Teacher’s Discovery
La quinceañera is the fifteen-year-old girl who is celebrating her birthday. The party is a celebration full of traditions and customs. The tradition of the fifteen-year-old girl transitioning to adulthood dates back to 1521, when the Spanish and Aztec cultures converged.
©2009 Teacher’s Discovery

5. Today Religious tradition in Mexico and Latin America
A time to reflect on childhood blessings
Welcomes the approaching challenges of adulthood
Today the quinceañera’s birthday party is still part of the religious tradition in Mexico and Latin America. A young woman uses this celebration to reflect on the blessings of her childhood and the challenges that she will face as a grown-up.
©2009 Teacher’s Discovery

6. What is the purpose of the celebration?
Beginning of womanhood
New responsibilities
Faith, good morals
Devotion to community
The quinceañera’s birthday party is a special celebration that marks the beginning of womanhood. New responsibilities are placed upon the young woman such as household duties, work and family needs. The main purpose of this celebration is for a young woman to live a life of faith, good morals and principles, and devotion to the community.
©2009 Teacher’s Discovery

7. Coordination Family and friends help to plan the event.
Padrinos – godparents
Madrina – godmother
Padrino – godfather
**Traditionally responsible for paying for the party.
The entire quinceañera’s celebration is a teamwork of effort on the part of the entire family. It is customary that family, friends and relatives will volunteer to be padrinos or sponsors.
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8. The Location Church - Mass Church hall Banquet hall
The celebration usually begins at church with the celebration of Mass. Afterwards, a dinner and dance celebration is held in the church hall or a banquet hall.
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9. The Dress The quinceañera arrives in a fancy full-length dress.
Usually pink or white.
The quinceañera arrives wearing a dress similar to a wedding dress with a few differences. The traditional dress is white with a bell-shaped floor length skirt; but this dress, unlike a wedding dress, does not have a train. The dress in some Hispanic communities can be any pastel color. The dress is often a gift from her godmother, or the madrina.
©2009 Teacher’s Discovery

10. The Court 7 damas 7 chambelanes 7 + 7 + 1 quinceañera = 15
The quinceañera chooses 7 girls, called damas, and 7 boys, called chambelanes, to be in her court. They are relatives or close friends. Each one of them represents a year of the honoree’s life with the 15th year represented by the quinceañera herself.
©2009 Teacher’s Discovery

11. Attire for the Court ©2009 Teacher’s Discovery
The damas dress in long similar dresses chosen by the quinceañera. The chambelanes wear traditional black suits or tuxedos. One of the chambelanes is chosen to be her escort and will wear a white or black tuxedo.
©2009 Teacher’s Discovery

12. The Preparation Arranged according to height Rehearsals Dance routines
Waltz – vals in Spanish
After the attire for the court has been chosen, the couples are matched according to height. The court starts meeting on a regular basis to prepare for the celebration. Rehearsals are held to practice dance routines. One of the dance routines is the Waltz, called a vals that is traditionally performed at the reception.
©2009 Teacher’s Discovery

13. Religion Classes Relationship with God
Accepted in the Church as an adult
In some communities, the quinceañera is required to take religion classes. The classes focuses on her relationship with God and her Catholic community. These classes help her realize that the quinceañera’s celebration is not just one big birthday party, but also a celebration of being accepted into the Catholic Church as an adult.
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14. The Mass Misa de acción de gracias Reaffirms values and beliefs
Parish recognizes the young woman as an adult in the eyes of the parish
The celebration usually begins with everyone attending a Mass called the Misa de acción de gracias. This is a time for the quinceañera girl to reaffirm her values and beliefs in regards to faith, family, and her community. The Mass is also a time for the parish to recognize the young woman as an adult in the eyes of the church.
©2009 Teacher’s Discovery

15. The Gifts The quinceañera receives: A tiara A scepter A ring Earrings
A medal
A Bible
During the Mass, which is filled with symbolism, the girl receives a tiara, a ring, a cross or medal, earrings and flowers. These are usually gifts from her parents or godparents.
©2009 Teacher’s Discovery

16. The Tiara – La diadema Triumph over childhood Faces challenges
The quinceañera wears a tiara that symbolizes that she is a “princess” before God and the world. It also signifies a triumph over childhood and her ability to face the challenges that are ahead. The girl’s mother or godmother places the tiara on her head. This is a tribute to an ancient custom where the quinceañera girl was established as an official princess within her family and a young woman in her society.
©2009 Teacher’s Discovery

17. The Scepter – El cetro Authority and responsibility
The scepter, or el cetro is a symbol of authority and responsibility that will be given to the quinceañera. This is usually done at the same time she is given her tiara.
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18. The Ring - El anillo Never-ending circle of life
The ring worn by the quinceañera represents the never-ending circle of life. It symbolizes the unending stage of womanhood and her talents and future contributions.
Never-ending circle of life
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19. The Earrings - Los aretes
The earrings are a reminder to listen to the word of God and the world. The quinceañera is to always hear and respond to the world around her.
Listen to the word of God
Hear and respond to the world
©2009 Teacher’s Discovery

20. The Medal – La medalla
The cross or medal symbolizes her religious expression of faith. The quinceañera is placed under the protection of the saint represented by the image on the medal.
Signifies faith in God, in herself, and in the world
©2009 Teacher’s Discovery

21. The Bible – La Biblia
The Bible represents keep the word of God in her life.
The Bible, prayer book, and rosary represent important resources to keep the word of God in her life.
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22. The Flowers – Las flores The Bouquet – El ramo
Represents new commitment
The quinceañera carries a bouquet, or el ramo. The flowers represent the new commitment she makes to assume responsibility in her community. Today, some girls are choosing to carry artificial bouquets.
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23. After the Mass Time to eat and party. ©2009 Teacher’s Discovery
The quinceañera walks out of the church with her escort instead of her father. The court follows, followed by her parents and godparents. Afterwards, there is a photo session and then it is time to eat.
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24. The Grand Entrance ©2009 Teacher’s Discovery
The 14 damas and chambelanes line up first and are followed by the honoree’s escort and her mother, the godparents, and finally the quinceañera and her father. The court enters first down the aisle to the altar where the couples divide. The damas kneel on the left side and the chambelanes on the right. The quinceañera is at the center of her court and everyone's attention.
©2009 Teacher’s Discovery

25. The Last Doll – La última muñeca
During the reception, a special time is set aside to present the quinceañera with her última muñeca, or last doll. Her godparents and parents are called up to the center of the dance floor to present this very special doll. Often, after the presentation, the father of the quinceañera will dance with his daughter and the doll. The doll symbolizes the end of her childhood and her transition into adulthood. This doll is very special and is often made of porcelain. It is dressed to look like the quinceañera. It becomes a special lifelong keepsake. In some communities at midnight, the quinceañera will give the doll to her younger sister. If there is no sister, it goes to another young girl in the extended family. Whoever receives the doll will then go through the same ritual in her quinceañera resulting in the doll being handed down through several generations.
Symbolizes the end of childhood
©2009 Teacher’s Discovery

26. The heeled shoes – Los zapatos de tacón
Step out into world as a woman
After the presentation of the doll, the mother of the quinceañera proceeds to the dance floor holding a pair of high-heeled shoes or zapatos de tacón on a satin pillow. The quinceañera who has been wearing flat shoes all day takes a seat and her father exchanges her flats for her first pair of high-heeled shoes.
©2009 Teacher’s Discovery

27. As part of the celebration, there is an elaborately decorated cake.
The Cake – El pastel
The cake is a special birthday cake provided by one of the quinceañera’s many sponsors. It is several layers tall and may be topped with a small quinceañera doll or decorated with flowers.
As part of the celebration, there is an elaborately decorated cake.
©2009 Teacher’s Discovery

28. The Memento - Los recuerdos
At the end of the evening, each guest is given a momento or recuerdo, which is a small gift in honor of the quinceañera.
(Click to start the video.)
A memento or small gift
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29. Quinceañera – Modern Takes on Tradition
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30. Color,Color and More Color!
There has been an explosion of colors other than pink and white. In recent years, quinceañeras have started wearing more fashionable colors in their dress and court.
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31. Costume Changes Quinceañera dresses are changing: Tighter-fitting
Colorful
Wardrobe change between church and reception
Quinceañera dresses are changing. Tighter-fitting and colorful fabrics are becoming more common. Even girls who wear a white gown for the Mass may change later, particularly if they choose to do a modern dance performance.
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32. Bigger Is Better ©2009 Teacher’s Discovery
The size of the party is growing at the same rate as the amount of money spent on them. Girls want all their best friends to celebrate with them and their family. While most quinceañeras still have a court of fourteen: seven damas and seven chambelanes to include all of their friends, some girls are opting for smaller courts.
©2009 Teacher’s Discovery

33. Dance Revolution ©2009 Teacher’s Discovery
Many girls are not happy with the Waltz, but it is tradition. There is a huge demand for modern and choreographed dances. Some girls want to perform a solo number while others prefer to dance with their friends.
©2009 Teacher’s Discovery

34. Princess for a Night she is the princess. In the end, regardless of
the country or location of
the event, quinceañera is
the girl turning fifteen — and in
the eyes of the Spanish-speaking
community she is becoming a
woman. It is about her celebration
and for one night,
she is the princess.
©2009 Teacher’s Discovery

35. for use of photos and video: Chihuahua State Department of Tourism
©2009 Teacher’s Discovery
Produced & Written by:
Suzanne Rutkowski
Project Manager:
Tina Groleau
Technical Support:
Joseph Kohler
Special Thanks
for use of photos and video:
Chihuahua State Department of Tourism
Robert Pineda
Quinceañera Dreams Choreography
Los Angeles, CA