Hispanic family traditions & customs

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"Congratulatory remarks about the wedding ... Wasn't the wedding ceremony beautiful? That row of handsome men and a parade of gorgeous attendants. And ..."

Hispanic customs and traditions frequently center on family. Bonds between parents and children, or husbands and wives, are strengthened in various rites of passage. Many of these classic events entered Latin America by way of Spanish settlers. Some have managed to remain contemporary in the culture despite being ancient in origin.

1. Quinceañ-era

   • Quinceañ-eras orignated in the Aztec culture around 500 B.C. The term refers to the 15th birthday of a young woman. "Quince" means fifteen, and "añ-era" connotes the idea of a year. The event marks the passage into womanhood. Hispanic girls dream of their own quinceañ-era with great anticipation. The celebrated girl first enjoys a formal feast attended by many of her friends and family, including her parents and godparents. Then the newly christened woman will participate in a father-daughter waltz.

   Los Tres Reyes

   • Los Tres Reyes, or The Three Wise Men, are a focal point of Christmastime in Hispanic culture. In the Christian religion, the trio present the baby Jesus with gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Children, especially in Spain and Latin America, compose letters of requests to Los Tres Reyes similar to what kids in the American tradition would write to Santa Claus. However, their presents -- if they're well behaved -- arrive not on Christmas day, but on Jan. 6.

   Weddings

   • Several distinctive features help to distinguish a Hispanic wedding. Madrinas and padrinos, or godparent-like figures, are designated as sponsors for the new couple- they help pay for the ceremony and participate in religious elements of the nuptials. For instance, the padrino may place a long strand of rosary beads in a figure-eight shape around the necks of the couple, known as a lazo. The groom is to give the bride 13 gold coins, called "las arras," to signify his steadfastness.

   Shaving and Scary Stories

   • "Pelar," "rasurar," or "afeitar al bebé-" are ways of describing the Hispanic custom of shaving infants' head hair. The tradition is believed to help babies' hair to grow thick and lush. Shaving is particularly common in countries such as Venezuela, Spain, and Mexico. Hispanic parents also instill the myth of El Cuco into their children. Young ones are told that, if they don't fall asleep quickly, this scary pumpkin-head figure will steal them from home.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: Tres Reyes, family traditions, family traditions customs, Hispanic family, Hispanic family traditions, Latin America, traditions customs