Ceremony of a quinceanera

It's interesting:
"The best man at my own wedding told me that one and it worked - for 15 years anyway, before she left me for someone short, fat and balding, who happened to ..."

The quinceanera is a rite of passage practiced in Hispanic cultures. It is celebrated to mark the 15th birthday of young women and signifies their passage from childhood into adulthood.

1. Mass

   • A Misa de Acció-n de Gracias (thanksgiving Mass) is attended by the birthday girl, maids of honor and chamberlains. The honoree sits near the altar throughout the mass.

   Fiesta (Party)

   • Traditionally, a mariachi band comes to the house of a girl on the eve of her 15th birthday, and serenades her in front of the house. The next day, a party is held, with the first dance reserved for the father of the birthday girl.

   Viaje (Journey)

   • Some girls celebrate their quinceanera with an excursion far from home, although, in contemporary times, fiestas are the more popular option.

   Formality

   • All who attend a quinceanera dress formally, particularly the birthday girl, who wears a long, frilly dresses not unlike a wedding dress. Parties are as large as a family and community can afford, often with formal dances, live music and a tiered birthday cake.

   Rite of Passage

   • The quinceanera is essentially a rite of passage that has been traced to Aztec times. Following quinceanera, a girl is expected to take on behavior and responsibilities of an adult woman. Moreover, the quinceanera traditionally signifies sexual maturity and openness to marriage.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: birthday girl, 15th birthday, Ceremony quinceanera