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The Party

A Customary Reception
Similar to a wedding reception, quinceañera parties have three parts. There is a presentation of the girl and her court, a dinner, and a party with dancing. The exact order and style of the presentation ceremony varies from country to country.

Sylvia Solheim of Quinceanera-Boutique.com remembers her daughter’s quinceañera, saying, “For my own daughter, we wanted her quince to be focused on the religious aspect of the celebration. We did all of the recognition of her leaving her childhood at the mass. But at the reception, it was just fun. A family can choose customs that have meaning for them and those are the customs they should follow.”

A new pair of shoes
In general, during the program, the quinceañera, her court of honor, her family and padrinos will be presented to the guests in a short, but very symbolic, ceremony. Her godparents might hand her a scepter to replace the bouquet of flowers she left at the altar that morning. She might be given a Bible, rosary and other gifts that were blessed during the mass service.

During some presentations, the father helps the quinceañera change from the flat shoes she wore to the church to her first pair of high heels, another symbol of her leaving childhood and becoming a young woman. Of course, her first dance as an adult is with her father, traditionally a waltz. “Sobre las Olas” and “A Ritmo de Bals” are both popular choices.

The court waltz
In the past, the father/daughter dance was followed by a choreographed dance of the entire court of honor, usually another waltz. That happens less often now, but the practice is still popular in some areas.

“Some churches might not allow the girl to do everything she wants to during the mass, like the coronation ceremony. Move those elements to the party, which is much more flexible than the church service,” says Isabella Wall of Bella Quinceañera, who works with 100s of quinceañeras each year.

During the evening, the girl’s parents and godparents toast the quinceañera, commenting on her new adult role, her growing faith or their pride and love for her.

The last doll and the first dance
Some girls also receive their “last doll” at the party, while others receive that gift during the church service earlier in the day. Certainly, there are thank-you toasts, made by both the girl and her parents.

In the past, quinceañera traditions put emphasis on the girl’s father. He walked the girl down the aisle, had the first dance with her and made the evening’s toasts. Other options are sometimes replacing that tradition: having both parents escort the quinceañera down the aisle or making the toasts. If a girl’s father has passed away or lives away from the family, it’s common for the mother or an older brother to complete all of the usual fatherly duties.

Olivia Flores Alvarez is the editor of BravoHouston!, an arts supplement to the Hispanic weekly newspaper Semana News. She regularly covers Latinos in entertainment for other Texas based publications, including the Houston Press newspaper and OutSmart Magazine. Olivia is also a contributing reporter for the KPFT Evening News, a Pacifica radio network affiliate.

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written by MiRiAh, November 10, 2009

tat kool so r u excited

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written by MiRiAh, November 10, 2009

MkAy IaM lIkE tOtAlLy LoSt !!!! smilies/tongue.gif

IaM lIkE hAvEiN mInE iN lIkE 7 mOnThS aNd I hAvE nO iDeA wHaT 2 dO lIKe i WaNt 2 Be OrGaInAl .

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written by stephanie, July 03, 2009

HI UMMM FOR THE FIRST PAIR OF HEELS LIKE IN MY FAMILY NO 1 HAS HAD A QUINCE IM PROBALY GONNA BE THE 1ST 1 SO I WOULD LIKE TO START THIS TRADITION BUT WHAT I WAS SAYING IS THAT I WORE MY 1ST PAIR OF HEELS FOR MY BANQUET BUT I DIDNT KNO THAT THIS WAS APART OF THE TRADITION! OOPPS I FEEL SO DUMB NOW IS THIS LIKE AGAINST THE TRADITION?WILL I STILL BE ABLE TO DO THIS CHANGING OF THE SHOES?

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written by Lizbeth, April 21, 2009

MiNe iS iN sEpTeMbEr N mY bEsTiEs Is In 4 WkS! i Am SoOo ExCiTeD 4 hEr. Me N hEr R hELpIn EaCh OtHeR pUt EaCh OtHeRs QuInCeS 2gEtHeR! iM sOoOo NeRvOuS n ExCiReD! iF u HaVe AnY tIpS oR iDeAs AdD aNd/Or MeSsAgE mE!

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written by yesenia, January 28, 2009

i raelly cnt wait till mine may 30 omg omg!!!=]

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written by .: lAUGhTER ANd R0MPE C0RAZONES ( jANUARY.fiVE.OhNiNE *] :., January 06, 2009

hiT MEh UP!!!
â†“
â†“
â†“
â†“
â†“

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written by .: lAUGhTER ANd R0MPE C0RAZONES â™¥ ( jANUARY.fiVE.OhNiNE *] :., January 06, 2009

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written by .: ROMPE CORAZONES ANd lAUGhTER ( jANUARY.fiVE.OhNiNE *] :., January 06, 2009

MiNE WAS thiS PASt SEPtEMbER Of '08
iT WAS thE bESt = ]]

hiT MEh UP ON MYSPACE fOR MORE idEAS
www.myspace.com/laughter1993

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written by vercole, November 12, 2008

i have a tip for any quinceanera. make sure you get this on video tape because then you will forget what exactly happens. do it im tellin u its true.

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written by Tecola Drakeford, September 18, 2008

wow i wish i could have one!!

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written by maya, August 05, 2008

mines nov29 & im so pumpd! it'l b a traditional ceremony but the party is gonna rok!

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written by Karla, April 07, 2008

! l0v3 that u can g!v3 us s0m3 adv!ce and t3ll us ur p3rsp3ct1v3 0n th!ngd thxs!!!

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written by jon, April 07, 2008

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written by Hannah Garcia, March 27, 2008

Hey!! it comin in like November!! SWWWWEEETTT smilies/wink.gif

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