Quinceañera - West Covina Elks - Hall Rental
A rite of passage
for fifteen-year-old Latina girls
It is a community and family celebration full of tradition and meaning when a young girl is symbolically escorted into womanhood by her family and the event is witnessed by her community. The word itself comes from the Spanish quince, "fifteen," and años, "years." The origins of the Quinceañera are often attributed to the ancient customs of the Aztecs, but the ceremony and meaning behind it are similar to other ancient cultural initiation rites that occurred throughout the world. Fifteen was the age when many young women left their family home to become wives and then mothers, and almost as though passing through an invisible door, a Latina enters her Quinceañera as a child but emerges as a young woman with new responsibilities. Those who know and love her will see and treat her differently from that day forward.
To celebrate the Quinceanera, the proceedings begin with a Thanksgiving Mass (Misa de Acción de Grácias). The young Quinceanera (the girl whose fifteenth birthday is being commemorated) is accompanied by a head chamberlain (chambelan), other chamberlains, maids of honor (damas), her godparents (padrinos) and of course, her loving mother and father. Everyone is dressed formally and the scene resembles a wedding complete with bridesmaids and the Quinceanera will wear something that stands her above the rest, usually a ball gown and some stunning jewelry. In ancient times, when ball gowns didn't exist, she would still have been attired in a manner that would distinguish her from everyone else.
The Mass is held in the family's church and in the old days, would have been conducted in the community's gathering place. The ceremony is a reaffirmation of the baptismal vows made by her parents.
The history of Quinceanera has passed cultural traditions and dearly held values on through many generations. This includes a special candle ceremony that aims to thank the people in the young girl's life who have been there for her and helped her to develop and grow.
Music has always been a part of life in Spanish and Latino history. It forms the background for any celebration and brings to joyful life, whatever is being honoured. Even in the ancient Aztec times, music would have been the thread that held the entire atmosphere together, and everyone would have danced and sung and prayed along to it. One of the loveliest traditions in the history of Quinceanera is the father/daughter dance, where the proud papa takes his daughter's hand and invites her to share a waltz with him, symbolizing his recognition that she is now a lady and should be treated as such. Not only is the dance a very special moment, but also it provides much entertainment, and perhaps a few happy tears, for those witnessing it.
History
Historically speaking, Quinceanera traditions date back to ancient Mexican society. The origins can be traced back to the Aztecs in 500BC where it was used as a form of initiation to instruct and reinforce important cultural ideals. These days, turning fifteen years of age is acknowledged with the Quinceanera and the ceremony is a reaffirmation of the baptismal vows made by her parents. Now, as then, a candle is lit during the ceremony to signify this.
Traditions
One of the most popular Quinceanera traditions is when the young lady gets to dance with her father in front of everyone. A very special song will be chosen, often with Spanish lyrics, and many fathers find them self teary on the dance floor with his newly come-of-age daughter. Additionally, the guest of honor will wear flat shoes at first and will be presented with a pair of elegant, heeled shoes to signify her more grown-up status.
The young lady celebrating her Quinceanera will make a presentation of a porcelain doll to her younger sister, symbolizing the last of her toys, another representation of moving forward toward adulthood.
