Quinceañeras: A Guide to Traditions

Not sure what's what when it comes to Quinceañeras? Use our quick refresher course in some of the more common Quinceañera traditions to get up to speed. Don't forget that these rules aren't written in stone. If any of the traditions don't fit with the way you would like to celebrate, there's no reason they can not be adapted to work with your plans.

Bouquet
The quinceañera girl often trades her last doll (see below) for a bouquet, which she holds during the Mass. If she's not including the last doll in the Mass, she will often enter carrying the bouquet. At the end of the Mass, she usually places it on the altar as an offering.

Chambelanes
The seven boys -- friends, male family members, and so on -- who make up half of the quinceañera girl's court.

Damas
The seven girls who make up the other half of the quinceañera girl's court. With the quinceañera girl herself, the total number in the court equals fifteen. Quinceañera Pointer: While it's traditional to have a court of 15, it's no longer the rule. It's now considered acceptable to have more or fewer. If you're planning on having an elaborate partner dance, however, make sure you keep the number of guys and girls even.

Quinceañera traditions vary from culture to culture: For example, the way Cubans celebrate is very different from the way Mexicans do. The same goes for different areas of the country -- certain communities may choose to emphasize different quince traditions than others.
Gifts
It is not uncommon for the priest to bless a bible, rosary, or other gifts for the quinceañera girl during the mass. These are not given to her during the service, however; instead, they are usually presented later at the reception when the girl's family, court, and padrinos (see below) are introduced. In some cases, girls are also presented with earrings and a ring or bracelet.

Last Doll
Some girls enter the mass carrying a doll dressed as a quinceañera which is called their "last doll." In other cases, the last doll ceremony will take place afterward at the reception. Putting down the doll (or in some cases, giving it away to a younger sister or cousin) represents putting away the things of childhood.

Mass
A thanksgiving mass, or misa de acción de gracis, begins the Quinceañera celebration. The quinceañera girl enters in a processional with her court. If she enters holding her last doll, she exchanges it for a bouquet before taking her seat of honor. The purpose of the mass is to give thanks to the quinceañera girl's family and friends, and also to present the quinceañera as an adult member of the congregation. Other than the processional and in some cases, a coronation ceremony in which the quinceañera's parents or godparents present her with a tiara, the elements are much the same as at a regular mass.

Padrinos
Godparents or sponsors who are chosen by the family to present the gifts to the quinceañera are called padrinos. They may or may not choose the actual gifts, but they participate in the presentation (whether handing items to the priest to be blessed or presenting them to the quince girl). Padrinos often are included in the processional at the mass, and are presented along with the family members and court at the reception afterward.

Scepter
Often during the presentation of the quince girl, her court, family, and padrinos, the quinceañera's godparents will present her with a scepter, replacing the bouquet she had left on the altar. Along with the tiara, it undoubtedly marks her as queen for the day.

Shoes
The quinceañera girl usually wears shoes for the ceremony, exchanging them for heels (which are often put on her by her father) at the beginning of the Quinceañera. Like the last doll, exchanging flats for heels also symbolizes the change from girl to woman. Afterward, the quince girl and her father will generally perform a traditional waltz.

Vals
The vals, or waltz, is the dance performed by the quinceañera and her court, usually at the beginning of the party. Though these days the waltz is likely to include more modern dance moves, elements of the traditional waltz are usually kept in place for these elaborately choreographed dances. Tradition also holds that the quinceañera girl first dances with her father before performing with her court (at which point she may also trade for a more sprightly dancing partner). Quinceañera Pointer: Don't feel stepfathers, grandfathers, or other special family members need to be left out. If the quinceañera girl is especially close to her stepfather, she may choose to have her first dance with him. It's more important to honor those she feels most close to than to play it by the book.

 

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