Elizabeth Fung
English 1B
Dalia Sirkin
16 November 2016
Rite of Passage: Quinceanera
Quinceañera is the Spanish word for a girl who is 15 years old. Among Latinos in the United States, quinceañera also is the name given to the coming-of-age celebration on a girl’s 15th birthday. The quinceañera has its origins many centuries ago when both boys and girls participated in rites of passage. To prepare for womanhood, girls were separated from other children at a certain age so the elder women could teach them about their future roles as members of family and community. During the official rites of passage, the community would thank the gods for the future wives and mothers, and the young women would vow to serve the community. Later, missionaries
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turned the event into a personal affirmation of faith by the young women and a pledge to become good Christian wives and mothers. A church celebration became an important part of the occasion. Today, the quinceañera celebration often is a lavish party that may include a mariachi band, a feast and many guests—much like a wedding. Planning for a quinceañera can start as early as the birth of a daughter. The family and godparents save up money until the girl is of age. Actual preparations may take anywhere from six months to a year and a half. Dances have to be learned, decorations decided upon, cakes ordered, and in some cases, dresses made. The young woman wears an elaborate dress in pastel or, more recently, bold colors and there are traditional customs vary but may include; Receiving a church blessing, having 14 male and female attendants and escorts, called damas and chambelanes, to represent the previous 14 years of life, presenting a porcelain doll to a younger sister to symbolize leaving childhood behind, or receiving a final doll from her godparents, changing from flats into high-heeled shoes to represent becoming a young woman, and dancing the first dance with her father. In a Costa Rican styled quinceanera, the traditional customs consist of a bible, flower bouquet, tiara/crown, three roses, quince shoes(flats to high heels), a watch, ring/cross, guestbook, and doll. All of these traditional customs have a special meanign that ties them altogether. The bible is important because it is recommended to have a Bible covered in either satin, lace, silk, taffeta, etc. It is the first object that is given to the young lady during the ceremony when the priest or pastor indicates it. He will talk about the importance of the word of God in the Quinceañera’s life. The flowers should be the same color as the Quinceañera’s dress. She will leave the bouquet at the altar as an offering and her parents will approach her when she is at the altar. It is the crown that the young lady wears to indicate that she is the princess, the daughter of God. The minister will talk about the crowns that are mentioned in the Bible. One closed button, one half open, and one completely open. They represent her infancy, childhood, and current age respectively. Each flower should receive a special mention during the religious act, although this ritual can also be performed at the reception. If possible, the flats should be white and the heels should match the color of the dress. The father or the guest of honor helps the young lady switch shoes. This tradition is celebrated in the church as well as the reception. She has to wear it on her left wrist. It indicates the time dedicated to God and also serves as a reminder that God will arrive and that she has to be prepared. However, in other cultures the godparents give this gift to the Quinceañera during the feast. The ring should have a diamond or a stone of her choice. The ring represents the infinite circle of God’s love and has to be worn on the right-hand annular (ring) finger. When the ring is given the Quinceañera may read a verse or sing a song about the promise made to God. The cross symbolizes faith in Christ. These customs play an important role in the ceremony of the quinceanera because they have a special meaning to them and it adds to the customs as they wish. This is what makes the celebration unique and special in its own way. The purpose of a quinceanera is for a girl to transform into a young beautiful woman and for her to strengthen her faith.
Adult have a responsibility of passsing down the faith to younger members of the church as they are the future. The church can only provide the quinceanera an opportunity to reflect on her role as a Catholic Christian woman in society which often distorts the woman’s role. The quinceanera ritual is a valuable for the religious message it send not only to the young people of the church, but also to theier parents, grandparents, godparents and the entire parish calling them to prayfully join with youth in making a committement to God and to the …show more content…
church. Faith places a huge part in a traditional quinceanera celebration because the young girl who is being presented to the community as a young lady makes a promise to God and makes a promise to honor herself an her religion. This is a significant cultural ritual that is down within those who are closest to you that helps solidies the girl’s commitment to her faith. There are requirements for a young girl to have her quineanera. First she must have completed and been baptized, had recieved her first communion and be enrolled or finished with her confirmation classes. Some courses are designed for both the soon-to-be Quinceanera and her parents, while others simply require the celebrated to attend on her own. Although most preparatory classes are weekly courses that last a few months, some parishes hold extensive yearlong classes and others require attending only a one-time seminar. Once all the requirements are met, the date for the mass can be set and the first planning steps such as choosing the Quinceanera’s court of honor may begin. Typically, the padrinos are chosen for being a stable, married couple that will ideally serve as mentors for the young girl. Their main role is to help keep the young girl on a path of spirituality and guide her into becoming a positive contributor to her community. The mass plays an important role in the quinceanera, prior to the Mass, the girls receive lifestyle training in which they learn about their religious faith and how important and valuable they are to God. As teenagers, young people are in a stage of change and confusion. They are looking for their own personal identity, but they also need to know they are God's creatures and as his daughters, they should make him proud.For the ceremony, the church is decorated with flowers and a red carpet. It is a memorable and spiritually significant event. It is also the moment when the teenager is introduced to God and her community as a young adult. In the homily, the priest makes direct recommendations to the birthday girl and her parents and godparents, to preserve the girl's "dignity, decency and purity." Usually during the Mass, the quinceañera — which literally translates as "15-year-old girl" sits in front of the altar in a special chair.
Behind her are seated her parents and siblings, as well as her godparents and her "chambelanes" or escorts, who are going to dance the waltz with the birthday girl during the party. At the end of the Mass, one or two little girls will give some kind of souvenirs to the attendees to help them remember the day.
This is also the moment when the girl gives thanks to the Virgin Mary, her parents and others who have been the sponsors of her faith and beliefs throughout her life. The Catholic ceremony is an opportunity to celebrate with family and friends, but especially to glorify God for the gift of life and love. Many Protestant religions have adopted their own variations of the quinceañera festival, however, these celebrations are usually less extravagant than the Catholic version and may or may not be held during a
party. In these ceremonies, it is common for the minister to remind the birthday girl of the duties and responsibilities that life will bring to her. He will also encourage her to live her future based upon God's commandments. During the celebration, the birthday girl will be reminded that youth can be a time of happiness, but also a time of vulnerability and risk, because the lack of experience may lead her to wrong paths. Although The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints doesn't have a ceremony for the quinceañeras, many Hispanic Mormons will still often celebrate a girl's 15th birthday as a cultural rite of passage. Usually, the birthday girl and her parents will mark the occasion by saying a prayer asking for a blessing that she will conduct herself in the best way and remind her that her parents are always concerned about her welfare. The chambelan de honor is a young man who is chosen to be the Quinceanera’s date for the day. His role is an important one since he symbolizes the girl’s first male companion as a young lady. An older brother, cousin or friend of the celebrated, typically fills the role of the chambelan. It is up to the Quinceanera to decide whether she wants to be accompanied by a chambelan and if she wants a Quinceanera court at all. A quinceanera is an important moment in a young girls life that she will never forget. Especially since this is a huge rite of passage for hispanic girls and it’s what you dream of since you were a little girl. You can only imagine what color dress you’ll have, the decorations, who to invite, and much more. THe young girl will be transformed with a young lady and focus on the themes of youth, eternal love to God, becoming a strong woman, and remaining true to her religion against all adversity are customary topics for a quinceanera mass.
this celebration. She has to pick a partner which is known as an escort, along
I shouldn’t have a quinceanera , what’s so important you turning fifteen having a huge party having a big dress , food , make-up , and hair done . every one turn fifteen and some people don’t make a huge party and go all out just for you turning a age , it’s not a big deal turning fifteen you still a teen you're not an adult yet , your still a kid.
Through the study of the Peruvian society using articles like “The “Problem of the Indian...” and the Problem of the Land” by Jose Carlos Mariátegui and the Peruvian film La Boca del Lobo directed by Francisco Lombardi, it is learned that the identity of Peru is expressed through the Spanish descendants that live in cities or urban areas of Peru. In his essay, Mariátegui expresses that the creation of modern Peru was due to the tenure system in Peru and its Indigenous population. With the analyzation of La Boca del Lobo we will describe the native identity in Peru due to the Spanish treatment of Indians, power in the tenure system of Peru, the Indian Problem expressed by Mariátegui, and the implementation of Benedict Andersons “Imagined Communities”.
The Quinceañera is a celebration in Latin America that is very comparable to our Sweet 16 celebration, also know as the fiesta de quince años. The origination of the word comes from the feminine term of fifteen-year-old in Spanish. The overall celebration marks the transition from childhood to becoming a young woman. In earlier times this celebration was meant to be a teaching point for young women to learn how to cook, weave, and the art of becoming a mother. Depending on the family specifically, some can carry a religious tone, and some can be more traditional and casual.
The Latinos make up close to 16 percent of the total American population, thus becoming the 2nd largest ethnic community. Just like many other migrant populations, the Latinos seek to keep in touch with their Hispanic traditions and cultures. As Alvarez puts it, children born in the US are thus taught certain cultural events and values so as to maintain their lineage. The most common one as discussed by Alvarez in her book is the quinceañera. This refers to a girl’s celebration as she reaches fifteen. This day of celebration is supposed to mark a girl’s transition from being a child to an adult woman. Among other traditional symbols, these parties are huge and include choreographed dances and ball gowns.
Envision stepping into the room, seeing your guess smile and talk quietly, the atmosphere of the room glowing, and feeling the warmth grow inside your chest as you know you planned a successful Quinceanera. The day a girl of the hispanic culture turns 15, is the day her fantasies come to life; and she becomes a women. Quinceaneras carry lots of quarks, small details, and ideas; but with these simple steps it can be perfected.
Ever since I was young I wanted to have a Quinceanera. I always wanted to wear a long and fluffy dress and a shiny crown on my head. I always saw many girls on t.v or family members have their own Quinceanera, so I decided that I wanted to have mine as well. Quinceanera are family traditions, in Mexico it’s when a young girl is about to become fifteen years old they have a Quinceanera, which represents that you are turning into a young woman.
In Quinceanera, the concept of growing up is surrounded by cultural lies. In Latin culture, the celebration of when a girl turns 15 symbolizes the transition to adulthood. In the poem, we see the narrator showing resistance to the act of growing up. She expresses her emotions by saying, “My dolls have been put away like dead children,” to put away her dolls who are not supposed to be “dead” to her. She needs to move on from any tangible objects that have any
Cinco de Mayo, also known as the Anniversary of the Battle of Puebla, is a national holiday in Mexico that commemorates the 1862 Mexican victory over the French forces of Napoleon III in Puebla, Mexico. This holiday, celebrated on the fifth of May, has deep roots in Mexican culture, but in American-Mexican culture as well. Cinco de Mayo serves as a proud reminder of an unlikely victory, as well as a day to express and cherish Mexican pride and heritage.
All birthdays are special. Birthdays celebrate life and the passing of time. In a young Mexican girl life, there is no birthday more important then her quinceañera. The quinceañera is a celebration of a girl’s journey into womanhood. The story of my fifteenth birthday is contributed for a better understanding of how special it is to celebrate a girl’s transformation into a lady, and how it differs from any other birthday she celebrates.
This event is celebrated differently by many diverse cultures, and as time goes by, some of the traditions change. Even though the traditions may alter, the whole point of this eventful activity stays the same. The point of this event is to recognize the young lady’s transition from childhood to womanhood. This is also known as “the coming of age.” On this one day, it’s all about the girl, nothing else matters!
Do I even want to have a sweet sixteen? I’ve never seen myself as the quintessential “princess”, in a flowing dress and mile high tiara. I could just wait until my eighteenth, then I’d be considered an adult, at least in American society. Do I even want a Quinceanera? It revolves around the church so much it’s practically the sun and the earth. Besides, could I even have a Quinceanera? My family would have to travel all the way to Mexico.
The bride is then assisted in adorning herself for the public ceremony which begins with a feast at the family’s home.
Cinco de Mayo basically means what it says, the fifth of May. It is not an independence day for Mexico like most ignorant people think. Mexican
The second family that I interviewed was the Lyles family. Both Bro. Scotty, the father, and Mrs. Yolanda, the mother, participated in the interview and three of their children were in the room. Bro. Scotty was born and raised in Alba, Texas on the very same tree farm that he owns and operates today; he is also a deacon at our church. However, Mrs. Yolanda was born and raised in Guatemala. As a child she was raised Catholic, and is part of a large and growing family. She is one of eight children. Their family as well as anybody else in that culture celebrated their daughter’s 15th birthday with a Quinceañera which marked the transition from childhood to young womanhood. This was traditionally the first time the girls would wear make-up, nice