The quinceañera celebration in the Latin American tradition marks the transition from childhood to womanhood for all young females on their fifteenth birthday. The actual celebration varies from country to country but it is considered by many to be the most important day of a woman’s life and is celebrated in a spectacular manner. Every young girl growing up in the Latin community dreams about her quinceañera. In Mexico, the giant party usually begins with a mass during which a special blessing on the girl is given and certain symbolic presents received. This is then followed by a huge party for family and friends very much like typical wedding receptions in the states. The entire event in fact, closely resembles a wedding in its elements and traditions. Instead of celebrating two people, however, the spotlight is intensely focused on one. There is even a dance, usually a waltz, featuring the birthday girl as the star of the show.
For the house here, it is impossible to give each girl the normal quinceañera treatment, however the big day is still celebrated in style. Every November, the house throws a huge party for all the girls who have turned or will turn fifteen in that year. In 2011, around twenty girls celebrated their 15th birthday and therefore took part in the huge party. They are pampered as much as possible: the group is taken to buy their own pair of shoes for the day, hairdressers and make-up artists are hired to get them ready the day of, and all are able to pick their own ball gown from the large store of donated dresses the house keeps on hand specifically for this day. The quinceañera is also one of the few expectations to visitor’s day when family of the girls may visit to participate in the celebration.
Decorating the sports courts of the school for the big waltz performance later that day. Our morning was spent helping to decorate everywhere: the school for the waltz, the chapel for the mass, the patio for the dinner, and the comedor for the dance. Lots of balloons!
The centerpieces on the tables. If you look closely you can see the little birthday girl in her ball gown.
Five of my girls were part of the celebration. Don't they look gorgeous!
The too cool escorts. The girls had to pick an escort from guys of the same year. Don't you just love the suits!
Group photo of some of the girls with Father Phil outside the chapel before mass.
Getting ready to process in to start the celebration.
The girls receiving their quinceañera gifts.
The parade to the school for the traditional waltz.
The waltz began with each couple picking up a little girl as they walked in. Apparently this was supposed to symbolize their future family one day.
All of the little girls in the house were included. How adorable!
Their waltz was done to the High School Musical 3 song "Can I Have This Dance?" which is really cute and highly appropriate. They practiced for weeks and I think we were all excited to finally see what went with the music we'd heard blasting from the school for all that time.
The waltz was rather long. They replayed the song three times.
Their exit song was Kelly Clarkson's "Breakaway." Another appropriate choice I thought. I was so proud!
A group photo of all the participants. I especially love the Cinderella dress on the little girl in front.
The patio all set up for dinner.
Each birthday girl got her own table for family and friends.
The rest of my girls helped serve.
What Mexican party is complete without mariachi?
A photo to prove I was there!
For dessert, the house bought several giant cakes. Somehow this evolved into a cake fight with some of the kids. All in good fun.
The dance began not long after dinner in the comedor.
They went all out for the dance. A special team came in to set up the neon lights and sound system. We even had a professional DJ hired and a fog machine.
It was a full day of decorating and celebrating. Congratulations girls! I'm so proud.
