Quinceañera, La

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Quinceañera, La

The quinceañera celebration—a term derived from the Spanish word for fifteen (quince)—serves as both a "coming out" celebration for young women in Mexican and Mexican-American communities and a religious ceremony initiating the young woman into Catholic adulthood.

Tracing the roots of this complex rite can be somewhat difficult, as there is no real agreement on its particular origins, though it appears fairly obvious that the ceremony owes something to both Spanish court dances and native Mexican rituals of initiation. However, those who have studied this ritual have noted that since quinceañeras are virtually unknown in Spain, it seems logical to locate the genesis of the current celebration in the New World. In addition, the Spanish court dances were comparable to the American cotillion and similar "presentation" events, while quinceañeras take on a decidedly sacralized tone, as they are almost always accompanied by a Mass. It seems, then, that the quinceañera celebration represents a syncretic linkage between traditional Aztec, Maya, and Toltec puberty rites and the debutante-type balls of the Spanish from Mexico's colonial past.

As the term itself implies, the quinceañera takes place on or near the fifteenth birthday of the young honoree and includes two key elements: the Mass of thanksgiving and the dance. Though these two elements are necessarily separate in their official designation, in practice they are linked in a continuous flow of events such that the actual quinceañera can be thought of as one single event.

The Mass of thanksgiving, once celebrated as a regular Sunday Mass, is now most often a Saturday evening vigil, as that is more conducive to the celebration while still fulfilling the Sunday obligation. In addition, the honoree occasionally celebrates her confirmation during the quinceañera, to further emphasize her entrance into her adult life of faith. Whether accompanied by her confirmation or not, the quinceañera Mass is the first time the honoree receives the sacrament of Holy Eucharist as an adult.

The dance and celebration following the Mass should not be construed as merely a party, or fiesta. There are specific roles played by the honoree's fourteen damas, or attendants; their chamberláns, or escorts; the young woman's padrinos, or godparents; and her parents, their close friends, and even business associates. In addition, the honoree and her court perform dances and processions that are choreographed especially for the occasion.

For the young woman being honored with a quinceañera, the celebration ritually signals her entrance into adulthood in both realms accentuated during the celebration: the communal adulthood in the eyes of her friends and family, and her adult relationship with God in the eyes of the church.