Quince Años party

[Jessica]

Those of you that are Spanish, have you have a quince años party? I know that girls do it, what do boys do what they reach 15?

[chanman]

I think it's actually called a "quinceañera," and I think it's mostly girls, like a "sweet sixteen" in the EE.UU, or a Bar/bat mitzfah for Jews.

[Jessica]

yeah I guess it's called that. Oh I never knew there's a "Sweet sixteen" in the U.S. O.o uh oh I put that weddings were a simliar event to quinceañera (we were working on a writing assignment)

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

@Jessica: I don't know in other countries, but in Mexico the only ones who celebrate their fifteenth birthday are girls. Historically, it was a ceremony to "introduce" a young lady to society, in a way to say she was already a woman and should be treated as an adult from then on. It was also some sort of "permission" to suitors that would visit her in order to find a good candidate for her to marry.

In modern times, it's only a party to celebrate that the girl has left childhood behind, and of course, there are not many parents who want their daughters to be married so young anymore.

Traditional party include a religious ceremony. The guests are usually the whole family, the parents' friends and the girl's friends. Her father or godfather makes a speech saying she's already a woman, and gives her some advice for her future life; later she dances a waltz with some boys her age (which they have rehearsed for a few weeks) and then she dances one more waltz with her father and close male relatives (her brothers, uncles, a very good friend of her parents, etc.).

More modern celebrations are held in nightclubs with only the girl's friends and there is no ceremony at all.


@chanman: "quinceañera" is the girl who is fifteen years old. The party is called "fiesta de quince años".

[CrOtALiTo]

Yes. I have the knowledge that it's named Quisiañera in my country and any places. But when a boy reached the fifteen years old the mostly of the boys does a party with his friends. I really never have a party and anything above it. But it does not matter the important is enjoy his life with his family and friends.

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

@Jessica: I don't know in other countries, but in Mexico the only ones who celebrate their fifteenth birthday are girls. Historically, it was a ceremony to "introduce" a young lady to society, in a way to say she was already a woman and should be treated as an adult from then on. It was also some sort of "permission" to suitors that would visit her in order to find a good candidate for her to marry.

In modern times, it's only a party to celebrate that the girl has left childhood behind, and of course, there are not many parents who want their daughters to be married so young anymore.

Traditional party include a religious ceremony. The guests are usually the whole family, the parents' friends and the girl's friends. Her father or godfather makes a speech saying she's already a woman, and gives her some advice for her future life; later she dances a waltz with some boys her age (which they have rehearsed for a few weeks) and then she dances one more waltz with her father and close male relatives (her brothers, uncles, a very good friend of her parents, etc.).

More modern celebrations are held in nightclubs with only the girl's friends and there is no ceremony at all.


@chanman: "quinceañera" is the girl who is fifteen years old. The party is called "fiesta de quince años".

Do you like to write much right?

And you are right about the celebrate fifteenth party in Mexico it's very common between the girls who will complete fifteenth years old. They daces with people or uncles or cousins most close to her family during the ceremony she dances one waltz with anyone or other music ( Ten years ago ) I was a cousin with danced with my cousin. It's really very nice and pretty during the party the celebration is made in nightclubs as you said before or in a party room. Well I wanna telling to you two that the Quince años are very populate in Mexico oh right still I remember the fifteenth years of my cousin.

[Bolboreta]

In Spain people in general doesn't celebrate the fifteenth-sixteenth birthday in a special way.

Only a few high-society families celebrate their daughter's "Puesta de largo". When the girl is fifteen, she is allowed to go to parties with a long dress. Younger girls have to wear short dresses.

In my own and personal opinion this is a very machist (?) celebration. The father of the girl gives her to a boy (I mean "se la entrega a un chico" ?). She is since that moment allowed to dance with men. The simbolism of the party is the one Angelica wrote: The girl is ready to get married, the father -her owner- allows her to.

Fortunately, it only happens in a few small decadent villages. The rest of the girls can dance whoever they want to and are able to wear what they want. Even trousers, my god!

[Jessica]

thanks for the info ^_^

[sosia]

Originally Posted by Bolboreta

In Spain people in general doesn't celebrate the fifteenth-sixteenth birthday in a special way.

Only a few high-society families celebrate their daughter's "Puesta de largo". When the girl is fifteen, she is allowed to go to parties with a long dress. Younger girls have to wear short dresses.

Agree

[Fazor]

Interesting. It never occurred to me that a "Sweet sixteen" type celebration may actually be different ages in different cultures, even though it makes perfect sense. I guess you learn something new every day.

[CrOtALiTo]

Originally Posted by Fazor

Interesting. It never occurred to me that a "Sweet sixteen" type celebration may actually be different ages in different cultures, even though it makes perfect sense. I guess you learn something new every day.

Yes. Also I never have heard that term about sweet sixteen. Only I have heard and I have knowledge about the fifteenth years that is celebrated when the girls have sufficient age.