BIRTHDAYS are always an important and special date meant to celebrate life. From a child’s first anniversary of life to the very last, every single moment is special. But, in Latin American cultures, a girl’s fifteenth birthday is even more significant. This birthday is so exceptional because it recognizes the growth and transition of a young girl into adulthood.
As little kids, many Hispanic girls dream of being able to have such a beautiful event dedicated to them, but because of many factors, not everyone can hold such a big event. A quinceañera is a big deal, maybe even equal to a wedding, and because of this, it is very hard for families to be able to financially support one another. Thanks to all the help from family and friends, my dream came to life.
Many important aspects take a quince from just a birthday party to a quinceañera. These are things like the mass, last doll, exchange of heels, waltz, surprise dance, and so much more. All these small traditions are what build up a quinceañera and make it special. They are all meant to resemble something meaningful. For example, the heel exchange signifies the transition of the quinceañera from a child to a young woman.
My family and I decided to have the event in my parent’s hometown of Casa Viejas in Mexico. Most of my family lives in Mexico, and I wanted to be able to celebrate my special day with them by my side. Having my quince in Mexico had both advantages and disadvantages.
A quinceañera there would automatically have to be a lot bigger, as it is a tradition there to invite the towns of both parents and so all the planning and budget naturally put a lot of stress on my family. Although the stress was immense, my parents persevered to make my special day perfect.
The set date was approaching quickly, and before we knew it there was only a week left before my quince. Everyone in my family was busy with their tasks. My dad was busy making sure all the contracts were confirmed and good to go. He was in charge of the music, food, and drinks. My mom and I were in charge of the aesthetics and anything else that had to be done.
I practiced daily with my court to get our waltz and surprise dance down perfectly. Deciding who forms part of a quinceañera court is very important. A court should be filled with trustworthy people who care about the quinceañera. Thankfully I chose the right chambelánes, and I will be forever grateful to them for supporting me throughout the whole process.
I asked five of my cousins to be my chambelánes, among them was my main chambelán, a shout-out to Bryan Zavala (11). Thanks for being there for me since the very beginning.
Two days before my quince, my parents went out to buy all the ingredients needed for the food that was going to be served. We were making all the final arrangements, and one day before my quince, we had our last practice with my court.
That same day in the afternoon I decorated my room with balloons, tinsel, and even more balloons. On my bed, I set my dress, crown, shoes, heels, bible, accessories, crown, and albums. The night seemed eternal. My quince seemed so far away, yet it was so close.
The morning of my quince went by super-fast. I woke up early in the morning to get my hair done, and yes I was still running late. We rushed to put my dress on and had a quick photoshoot at a nearby park, where one of my chambelánes accidentally lay down on duck poo. Our ‘limo’ was a classic, cherry red Dodge truck. I was sitting on a stool in the middle of the truck which wasn’t very stable, and I almost tipped over a million times.
We then went to church and had a beautiful mass dedicated to me. After the mass was done, I stood up to offer a bouquet of fresh flowers to La Virgencita. Quinceañeras do this as a way to honor and thank La Virgencita for guiding them into adulthood. I then took many pictures with my relatives, and I walked out to the venue where the food would be served.
The rest of the day was filled with funny moments and a lot of dancing. I wanted to enjoy that day to the fullest because it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and so I rarely sat down. After eating, I cut the cake and gave my speech during the toast. During the toast, my close friends and family formed a circle around me and gave me advice and heartfelt words.
At nine p.m. we did the traditional ceremonies, waltz, and dances. After my surprise dance with my court, the dance floor was again open for everyone present. I danced my night away even with people I had just met that day. I was super tired and my feet hurt horribly but I wasn’t going to let that stop me from enjoying every moment.
The band stopped playing at one a.m. and after cleaning up a bit I left with my parents at around two in the morning. Many things went wrong in my quince, but I am still very happy with the memories that I made. Making sure to have fun every second is what truly makes an event enjoyable, not how expensive it is or anything materialistic.
I had been planning that special day for years, and now that it’s all over I really do miss it sometimes, but looking back at the memories I made that day satisfies me. As a piece of advice to anyone who is planning on having any type of event celebrating them, make sure to enjoy it to the fullest. Whether it is a quinceañera, bat mitzvah, or birthday party, have fun!
