Quinceañera.
A lot of young Latinas have their Quinceañera simply because “it’s what you do”- but Quinces are an
old tradition. Like, very old. Back in the days of the Aztecs, over six hundred years ago in the heart of
Mexico, the Aztecs considered fi fteen years old girls to be ready for marriage-Yikes! That’s young!
When the spanish conquistadores invaded Mexico, their culture was mixed with the Natives Aztecs, and the
Quinceañeras started to become a coming of age celebration, instead of a “ready for marriage” celebration.
Photography by MARCO VINICIO /PHONEIX
Believe it or not, plenty of the tradition has
survived since the days of the Aztecs! In the
Aztec Quinceañera ceremony, there was:
*A religios Ceremony
*A community gathering of family and friends
*A speech given by parents in thanks
and pride for their daugthers
*A tradition dance and celebration
*Symbolics gifts
The tradition spread to diff erent parts of Central and South
America, leading young women both within and beyond
Mexico to celebrate their fi fteenth birthday.
Whit immigration to the United States, over 400,000 Quinces
take place in the United States every year. Each one has its
own little twist, of course! Some Quinceañeras are in english,
some are bilingual in english and spanish. Some are lavish and
elaborate, while others are intimate and close, with plenty of
loving family.
“Whichever type of Quince you decide to have, now you know
the origin of where Quinceañeras came from, and you will
remember that it’s only your big day, but a part in an ancient,
beautiful tradition”
46 QM Fall- Winter 2019