A Quinceañera is a big event in the Hispanic culture for many fifteen-year-old girls lives today. A Quinceañera is a celebration of a girl's fifteenth birthday and many Hispanic girls all over the world celebrate this occasion. In the Hispanic community, the Quinceañera is an important celebration because of its history, which represents immediate change from childhood to womanhood in the eyes of society. Usually following the ceremony for the Quinceañera, a young woman was permitted to more responsibilities and privileges such as work and marriage.
The word " Quinceañera" comes from the Spanish words "quince" for fifteen and "anos", which means "years". The Hispanic community especially values the Quinceañera celebrations because traditionally it represented her commitment to the church as well as her segue into adulthood.
Some believe that the tradition of the Quinceañera dates back to the Aztec period when women were brought up solely for bearing children and obeying their husband. They were taught skills for survival and maintaining the home such as cooking, weaving and housework. Most of these girls married by the age of 15 or 16.
When the Spanish conquered the Aztecs in 1521 and both native and catholic traditions came together, the age of 15 became a time of decision for young women. By this time, the Spanish had imposed their religion on the Aztecs and forever changed the Aztec religion and lifestyle. The young Quinceañera was now required to make a choice: to devote her life to the church or to marry.
Although today's Quinceañera celebration is still partially religious, it is still seen as a symbolic step of her passage from girlhood into the responsibilities of young adulthood and is always a festive occasion. .
There are many ways to celebrate a Quinceañera. No matter what the manner is, the celebration generally includes almost all of the following common aspects: a religious ceremony of some sort, a beautiful dress for the birthday girl, a large party - formal or informal - lots of family, friends, food, gifts, dancing and always a first dance with her father.
