Rosario and her family were invited to a Quinceañera and they asked me to go with them. I was quite excited about this since I had never attended such an event.
A Quinceañera is a special birthday party celebration. When a young lady turns 15 years old she celebrates the crossing over from being a child to being a woman. This celebration is similiar to a Bar or Bat Mitzvah for young Jewish children.
This 15th birthday began with a Mass held in their Catholic church. The tradition is that her Godparents oversee the religious ceremony. The birthday girl chooses a color scheme and the flowers and decorations are selected to match. Laura opted for blue, silver and white. The church was decorated with white and blue flowers in large urns lining the central aisle of the church; the altar was banked with flowers. The church looked very much like it would for a wedding.
Laura and her parents arrived at the church in a car decorated with flowers. She wore a long blue gown with hoops, her hair was upswept with a tiara. She was escorted down the aisle of the church by her parents, followed by her chambelan of honor (6 young men) and also by friends carrying gifts to be given during the ceremony. During the Mass, the friends walked down the aisle and gave gifts to Laura of a candle, a cross, and a Bible. Then they presented gifts to the Virgin, in Laura's name---fruit, bread, wine and flowers. Each gift had a special significance.
After the Mass in the church, everyone went to a banquet hall for a party, once again, very much like a bridal reception in the USA. At the fiesta, Laura posed for pictures with everyone while dinner was served, buffet style. There was background music and a video of Laura's life---all 15 years! After dinner the festivities continued with a traditional father-daughter dance, after which the father "presents" his daughter to the chambelan. Laura then dances with the 6 young men, again a traditional dance. This signifies the transformation from family to friends and the outside world.
Laura changed into a ballet costume, blue, of course, and danced en pointe with 6 little girls. At the end of the dance, she presented all the little girls with a doll, signifying that she is giving up her toys of childhood to accept the challenges she will face as a woman.
Then a Mexican "Banda" took the stage! A VERY LOUD bass, percussion, tuba, and 10 other brass instruments played for dancing. Everyone danced until after midnight. What fun!
Laura and her family were very happy and all her friends had a great time participating in her Quinceañera.
The church in La Chona where the Mass was celebrated.
Inside the church.
Laura in the blue gown poses for pictures with friends.
The banquet hall ready for guests.
Spagetti, a beef dish, frijoles, pork, tortillas, and nopales for dinner.
The cake table.
Hasta luego.
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