Nota Cultural: Quinceañera
Below is a topic discussing a cultural aspect of several Spanish speaking countries. To participate, you can choose any or all of the following: translate this short paragraph, add your thoughts in English, contribute pictures or add additional information on the topic. If you are from a country other than those described in the paragraph, let us know how your country celebrates this milestone.
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3 Answers
In Brazil, these events are called Baile de Debutantes (Debutante) (as well as in other Latin American countries).
En Brasil, estos eventos se llaman Baile de Debutantes (Debutante) (así como en otros países de América Latina).
In Southern México, they usually celebrate the Quinceañera, but it appears to be more common than the North Americans who celebrate a girl's sixteenth. Well, really, it just seems like it's a bigger party...a bigger event in México. llwhere the whole family participates. In México, it´s not about getting your driver's license at that age, it´s more about a girl becoming a woman.
En el sur de México suelen celebrar la Quinceañera, pero parece más comun que las norteamericanas que celebran el dieciséis de una niña. Bueno, es decir, sólo parece que es una fiesta más grande...un fiesta más importante en México...donde toda la familia participa. In México, consequir la licencia de conducir no es lo importante en esa edad, es más sobre la chica se hace a una mujer.
The history of Quinceañera dates back to the Aztecs around 500 B.C. The word is comprised of two parts: "quince" (fifteen) and "añera" which is a derivative of "año" (year); and refers to a girl's fifteenth birthday. By age fifteen, boys were expected to become warriors and fulfil their father's expectations. For girls, it was the time in their life when they were presented to the community as young ladies, instead of girls. Fifteen-year-old Aztec girls were considered women and were given the instruction and responsibilities of womanhood and although this is a hugely significant rite of passage, it is also an enormous honor, one that Mexican girls today look forward to with pride and happiness. Every other birthday before and after may come and go without major celebration, but throughout the history of Quinceañera, this event has been full of ritual and tradition.
