El Salvadorian Birthday Traditions

by Z.A.
(British Columbia, Canada)

In El Salvador they celebrate a girls 15th birthday which they call quinceanera, Means: Sweet 15. It is done by the Hispanic culture to celebrate girls 15 years of age, the traditional passage from childhood into womanhood.

This celebration is like an American sweet 16 party or a debutante ball. Starts with a religious ceremony to affirm the birthday girls faith before God, friends, and family. The birthday girl is accompanied by her father and by up to seven ladies and 7 gentlemen.

At the reception they open by traditional dances and the feast begins. Before the dancing the father and the birthday girl also open with a dance.

The traditional wear for the lady of the hour is a pink dress of choice and the maid of honor all wear the same colour but different from the birthday girl. The celebration can take place in a park or a hall or even a family home.

Many families have a different tradition to mark the quinceaneras coming of age:

• the changing of the shoe


• giving the last doll


• giving a ring for her promise of faith until marriage


• or a toast to wish her the best on her journey

Majority of Hispanics serve:

• Panes con pollo (chicken in bread)


• Carne asada (BBQ)


• Arroz con carne(rice with meat)


• Tacos