Quinceañera Coming Of Age Essay

Latin American culture regards a “Quinceañera” as an adolescent girl’s entrance into womanhood at the tender age of 15 (“quince años” meaning 15 years of age/15 years old). Traditionally, this coming-of-age celebration was intended “to introduce girls to society and signify they were ready for marriage” (Quinceañera: Coming of age in a bad economy by Nancy Lofholm of The Denver Post). Nowadays, this momentous occasion recognizes girls as women who are capable of wearing makeup and dating. According to the previously mentioned article, “there is no definitive source for how it came to be that 15-year-old girls initially were presented to society when they reached marriageable age and, later, when they were deemed old enough to wear makeup, attend parties and date.” However, books such as “Once upon a Quinceañera” (written by Julia Alvarez) demonstrate how this rite of passage originated in Mayan and Aztec civilizations as well as European court rituals dating back to approximately 500 B.C.
Speaking of B.C. (abbreviation of “Before Christ”), the church plays a vital role in this transition into adulthood by providing ceremonies/classes that strive to educate the young women as to the physical and spiritual obligations they possess. As stated by Michele Salcedo (author of …show more content…
The “main event” per se, comes at the removal of her flat shoes into heels which is a symbol of the transition. She then dances a traditional waltz with her number-one chamebelán (escort; mostly the father or closest relative) as family watches on with pride and