The Quinceañera or Quince Años (meaning fifteen years) is, in some Spanish-speaking regions of the Americas, a young woman's celebration of her fifteenth birthday, which is celebrated in a unique and different way from her other birthdays. In some countries, such as Puerto Rico or Peru, the word Quinceañero is used instead of Quinceañera when referring to the celebration.
The word is also used to refer to the young woman whose 15th birthday is being celebrated (analogous to the word "cumpleañera" for "birthday girl"). The closest equivalents to the Quinceañera in the English-speaking world are the sweet sixteen or, in more affluent communities, a debutante ball at the age of eighteen. In some cases, the birthday girl has a choice of a quinceañera, a trip, or a car.
Read more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinceanera
2006-09-20 09:02:32
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answer #1
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answered by askyourq 3
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latin families mostly do this when a girl turns 15they have a special; party , they wear mostly pThe celebrant is wearing tennis shoes for the celebration but after the inagural dance the father of the young lady, who is sitting in a chair in the center of the dance floor, removes her tennis shoes and puts her high heels on signifying her becoming a young lady.
Most parties have the girl wear a pink dress (as she is still a girl, never white which equals bride but now other cultures are letting the girl pick a color) and a tiara because she is a princess in God's eyes that night. She holds a court with 14 girls (primeveras) and 15 guys (chamblans) which including herself would equal 30 people, or, 15 couples (to represent each year). At the party the court does a waltz and a surprise dance. The girl also dances with her father but first changes from flats to heels to represent the first time she can wear them ( the same with makeup). She could also get a doll with the exact same dress she has on to signify that this will be the last doll she ever will receive. In the past the party would show the girl is ready to be married, but now in today's culture it is so the girl can date.
ink dresses
2006-09-20 09:03:59
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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A Quinceanera is a Sweet 16 for the Hispanic People, but instead of 16 they celebrate it at 15. They are celebrating that they are going into womanhood. They invite family and friends. Most of the quinceaneras are paid for by family and friends and rarely the parents. They can cost up to 20 thousand but it all depends on what kind you are having. You can have a very simple one or very extravagant. But it's a famous Tradition among the hispanics, mostly the Mexicans...
2006-09-20 09:11:02
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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The Quinceañera or Quince Años (meaning fifteen years) is, in some Spanish-speaking regions of the Americas, a young woman's celebration of her fifteenth birthday, which is celebrated in a unique and different way from her other birthdays. In some countries, such as Puerto Rico or Peru, the word Quinceañero is used instead of Quinceañera when referring to the celebration.
The word is also used to refer to the young woman whose 15th birthday is being celebrated (analogous to the word "cumpleañera" for "birthday girl"). The closest equivalents to the Quinceañera in the English-speaking world are the sweet sixteen or, in more affluent communities, a debutante ball at the age of eighteen. In some cases, the birthday girl has a choice of a quinceañera, a trip, or a car.
Celebration
The celebration marks the transition from the childhood to womanhood of a Quinceañera. It serves as a way to acknowledge that a young woman has reached maturity.
While this traditional celebration is still practiced nowadays in Latin America and Latino communities in North America, it is sometimes observed by other events that focus more on the quinceañera's wishes (e.g. world travelling). In some cities, the more proper Baile de las Debutantes (Debutantes' Ball) still survives.
Some other traditions observed in the celebration include the giving and throwing of a quince doll. The display doll signifies the young lady's last doll as a child and the throwing doll, usually a Barbie type, is thrown by the young lady to the other female children in attendance much as the garter is thrown in a wedding. The celebrant is wearing tennis shoes for the celebration but after the inagural dance the father of the young lady, who is sitting in a chair in the center of the dance floor, removes her tennis shoes and puts her high heels on signifying her becoming a young lady.
Most parties have the girl wear a pink dress (as she is still a girl, never white which equals bride but now other cultures are letting the girl pick a color) and a tiara because she is a princess in God's eyes that night. She holds a court with 14 girls (primeveras) and 15 guys (chamblans) which including herself would equal 30 people, or, 15 couples (to represent each year). At the party the court does a waltz and a surprise dance. The girl also dances with her father but first changes from flats to heels to represent the first time she can wear them ( the same with makeup). She could also get a doll with the exact same dress she has on to signify that this will be the last doll she ever will receive. In the past the party would show the girl is ready to be married, but now in today's culture it is so the girl can date.
Mexico
In the Mexican tradition, if the quinceañera is Catholic, the festivities begin with a Thanksgiving Mass (Misa de Acción de Gracias), at which the quinceañera arrives in formal dress (usually white to symbolize purity and innocence), often resembling a wedding dress, accompanied by her parents (padres), godparents (padrinos), a number of maids of honor (primevaras) and chamberlains (chambelanes) ranging in number anywhere from seven to 15 couples. After the Mass, the younger sisters, female cousins and friends of the quinceañera pass out party favors and the quinceañera leaves her bouquet in an altar to the Virgin Mary. The Mass is followed by a party either at the quinceañera's home or in a banquet hall leased for the occasion. At the party, the quinceañera dances the traditional first waltz with her father and male relatives. Then her boyfriend, or male friend, dances the remaining part of the dance with the birthday girl. The celebration however is varied along other countries. In Dominican Republic, for example, the Quinceañera only involves the ball party.
Cuba
In Cuba, it may include a choreographed group dance, in which 16 couples waltz around the Quinceañera, who is led by one of the top dancers or her boyfriend. Sometimes the choreography includes four or six other skilled dancers called Escortes (escorts). They are allowed to dance around the Quinceañera and are usually dancers adept at improvisation whose movements are intended to highlight the central couple for the spectators. They are also allowed to dress in different colored tuxedos.
Fifteenth birthday celebrations were very popular in Cuba until the late 1970s. The custom entered the country partly via Spain, but its major influence was French. Wealthy families, who could afford to rent luxurious halls at country clubs or 4/5-star hotels and to hire choreographers, were the actual pioneers of Quinceañeras. Although lower-income families could not afford the same display of wealth, they too started to celebrate Quinceañeras, which they called Quinces. Those celebrations usually took place at the home of the Quinceañera or at the more spacious house of a relative.
Thanks for asking, and I hope this helps!
2006-09-20 11:04:47
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answer #4
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answered by *SaTaN*KiTtY* 2
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A Quincenera is similar to a Sweet Sixteen. It s the coming out for a Hispanic girl. The right of passage you might say from girlhood to womanhood. They are beautiful to see and fun to attend. Anything else you wanna know.
2006-09-20 09:04:56
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answer #5
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answered by dulce 1
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A quiciañera, is a celebration of your 15th birthday. Typically celebrated in the Hispanic (mainly Mexican) culture. This is when "you stop being a girl and become a woman" This is like the Sweet 16 celebration. And as like the sweet 16, you invite your family, friends, well like any other party invite who ever you want.
2006-09-20 09:04:23
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answer #6
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answered by Day 1
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Quincenera is a girls 15th Birthday. Most latin country celebrates it. It's like a coming out party.
2006-09-20 09:01:51
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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Its like a coming-out party for a young (15, 16) 15 I think, year old Hispanic female. Its like a debutant party. It costs a ton. She gets a huge expensive dress, has friends who have to have dresses to kind of like stand up with her, invites everyone she knows, has a huge feast with a gorgeous cake, almost like a wedding, and can cost almost as much. Its just a tradition, I myself have been to many back in my younger days, they usually have a dance, its fun. The young woman's parents usually save for a long time to throw this major party.
2006-09-20 09:04:43
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answer #8
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answered by trebobnagrom 3
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this is a big thing for a hispanic grl. in history it was a caromony that all the grls that wher 15 would gather around and go to mass and be presented to god and the villiage as a women and no longer a lil grl. then and the banquit they men would start to pick out the new women for their bride to be. but now its just like a sweet 16. and instead of a bride thing its a now your alowed to date. and now its family and friends that get invited.
2006-09-20 09:03:23
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answer #9
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answered by darkvamp4542 3
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It's celebrated in Hispanic/Latin American culture as a girl's 15th birthday. Don't do it if it's not in your heritage. A girl's family and friends are invited. They can be pretty pricey. Like 1000's of dollars pricey.
2006-09-20 09:02:14
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answer #10
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answered by seasonschange 3
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