Rite of Passage: Mexican Quinceanera

Tara A. Spears

As anyone who has lived with teenagers will tell you, this age group radiates drama. Couple that truism with a culture that loves to celebrate and you understand why the tradition of quinceanera is popular. Even today in modern Mexico when religious practice is at a low, recognizing a young woman’s (or man’s) rite of passage from child to adulthood Is. A. Very. Big. Deal. Feel honored should you ever be invited to a quinceanera; go and experience the formal side of a Mexican traditional party.

Some historians contend that the Quinceañera originated as a Catholic tradition that the Spanish Conquerors brought to Mexico. But other sources claim that the version practiced today is a Christian adaptation of the Aztec Ceremony of Woman. Even before of the Spanish Conquest, the Aztecs celebrated their girls when she reached womanhood. In the Aztec coming of age ceremony, there was a banquet and religious presentation in which mothers gave advice to their daughters. The Conquerors took the pagan celebration and converted the celebration in an effort to Christianize it. A couple of examples are changing the Aztec dance to a Waltz and the Aztec temple by the Christian church.

The quinceañera is celebrated on a grand scale and often ends up being very costly for the family. For this reason, it’s customary for the extended family and good family friends to make contributions with money or help in providing the things that are necessary for the memorable party. The dress, bouquet, crown, and other accessories have a special significance. Sometimes the accessories are presented during Mass or the fiesta for guest to applaud.

The first element that is chosen for planning a quinceanera is the dress. According to the family’s wealth, the dress can be simple or sophisticated. The quinceanera dress plays a huge part in the coming-of-age celebration. The dresses are typically extravagant and huge, which signifies the transition into adulthood. Most dresses are ball gown dresses, and traditionally pastels but in Mexico, white is reserved for the bride in weddings. The rest of quinceanera event décor and accessories must match the dress color.

Here are some of the typical elements of quinceañera celebrations that are common in Mexico:

El primer ramo de flores (the first flower bouquet): the birthday girl is offered a bouquet of flowers which is symbolically the first flowers she is offered as a young woman.

Chambelanes: This would be translated as “chamberlains,” these are boys or young men who escort the quinceañera and perform a choreographed dance with her. The dance is referred to as a waltz, but often incorporates other dance styles.

La última muñeca (the last doll): The birthday girl is presented with a doll which is said to be her last doll because after turning fifteen she will be too old to play with dolls anymore. As part of a ritual she passes the doll on to a sister or other younger family member.

Changing Shoes: Another popular tradition is the changing of the shoes. In this ritual, one of the parents will take off the quinceañera’s flats and replace them with elegant heels. This will be the girl’s first pair of heels, representing her growth and maturity.

Usually prior to the meal, the parents will give a toast to their daughter, often emphasizing her personal accomplishments and virtues.

The Mass includes a special Thanks to the Virgin (typically flowers) and a special blessing from the priest to help her prepare for the new challenges of being a woman. The celebrated girl sits in an honor seat near the altar. She can be accompanied by a court of up to 14 girls and 14 boys but half of that number is more common. Just as in a wedding party, the girls will be expected to wear matching gowns, and the men will be asked to wear tuxes. After the Mass, a reception is held that includes a banquet and a dance in honor of the birthday girl.

According to custom, a quinceañera’s first dance is with her father. This special father-daughter dance represents her transition to womanhood and highlights the importance of the father as the first man in her life. It’s usually to a song of the father’s choosing that has significance to them. Traditionally, it also represents a girl’s first public dance. Afterward, the father can hand the quinceañera over to her escort. Some quinceañeras find the waltz too old-fashioned, so the birthday girl chooses to put modern twist on the traditional dance.

No celebration would be complete without a feast. Originally, the family and perhaps neighbors in the community would all help prepare a home-cooked array of dishes for the reception. However, this has largely shifted over to the practice of hiring a caterer to provide the meal — another aspect that makes the quinceañera similar to a wedding.

As historian Kernecker has pointed out, the kinds of food at a quinceañera celebration will reflect the particular culture, as well as the social class and financial resources of the family. Mexican quinceañeras will usually include a meal variety of foods, ranging from enchiladas to pizza to seafood as well as a snack/sweets table.

A key component of the banquet is the tiered quinceanera cake. The climax of the festivities is often the cutting of a multi-tiered birthday cake after the guests sing the traditional birthday song, Las Mañanitas, to the birthday girl. It is typically large and often elaborate in design. The quinceanera cuts the cake and she is the first one to eat it.

Although quinceañeras and their families often pick and choose which traditions to use and which will be important to them, they have many traditions to choose from, each tradition with its own symbolic meaning. Regardless of the elements involved, all quinceaneras are joyous events that celebrate the uniqueness of the birthday girl.