Quinceañera also called quince años or simply quince, is the celebration of a girl’s fifteenth birthday in Mexico and other parts of Latin America. It is similar to when a Debutante makes her debut in the southern USA, but in Mexico it is a birthday celebration that marks the transition from girl to young woman. Families save for years for this event in which the young girl wears a formal ball gown and make-up. Traditionally it was to be the first time she wore either of these things, but most girls are now wearing make-up at a younger age. The dress is a huge part of the event with professional photos being hung in the family home for years to come.
Dresses in Puebla shop window
The celebration begins with a Catholic mass giving thanks. The entire family and extended families join in the celebration, along with traditionally 14 friends of the girl paired into couples known as damas and chambelanes. After the mass, there is a reception which includes a grand entrance made by the Quinceañera, a formal toast given by the family, and a first dance beginning with the girl and her father. This is followed by a family dance and then finally a party with gifts. During the reception, the birthday girl usually dances a traditional choreographed dance with her “chambelan de honor”, who is her chosen escort. A huge meal completes the evening, which goes well into the wee hours of the night.
