Mis Quince, Birthday Celebration

by Andrea
(Atlanta, Georgia)

Mexican families have many traditions, especially when it comes to birthdays. A big celebration that our Mexican family likes to honor is the becoming of a woman. In our culture it is believed that at age 15 a girl becomes a woman.

It is celebrated through a huge wedding-like party called a Quinceañera, a detailed and expensive tradition that presents the daughter in front of family and friends as a woman for the first time.

My quinceañera was amazing! The entire family was there. They traveled from all parts including Mexico. My grandmothers cooked an incredible Mexican buffet that included my favorite chilaquiles.

My favorite part of the party was the dance with my dad. It made me feel so special to be wrapped up in his arms like that. Can't say I felt like a woman at that point, I felt like his little girl still.

The tradition is well known not only in Mexico but in most if not all Latin American countries, mainly in the Roman Catholic religion.

Before the party there is a huge convocation that takes place in the church, in which you give away your childish ways and are given the new life of a woman. The quinceañera is a party that is planned months in advance. We began my planning 8 months in advance!

I would like to take this time to thank my padrinos for such an amazing quinceañera.