LA QUINCEAÑERALA QUINCEAÑERAA transition into A transition into

adulthoodadulthood

La InvitaciLa Invitacióónn LESHYRAM GONZALELESHYRAM GONZALE

CeremonyCeremony , , 1/24/2007, 1:00:00 PM 1/24/2007, 1:00:00 PM

Reception:Reception: 4720 Emerald Forrest way 4720 Emerald Forrest way

Orlando, Florida 32811 Orlando, Florida 32811 1/24/2007, 7:00:00 PM 1/24/2007, 7:00:00 PM

Highlights:Highlights:Slippers Exchange, Crowning, First Slippers Exchange, Crowning, First

Waltz, Toast, Musical Show, Cake, Banquet, Dance.Waltz, Toast, Musical Show, Cake, Banquet, Dance.

Oración ó Mensaje:Oración ó Mensaje: Hoy le doy gracias a Dios Primero que nada por darme una hija Hoy le doy gracias a Dios Primero que nada por darme una hija tan especial que hoy cumple sus quince atan especial que hoy cumple sus quince añños y deja de ser nios y deja de ser niñña a para ser mujer. Que el camino que te falta por correr sea tan para ser mujer. Que el camino que te falta por correr sea tan bonito como hasta hoy. FELICIDADES bonito como hasta hoy. FELICIDADES

Sentence or message:Sentence or message: Today I give thanks to God first for giving me such a special Today I give thanks to God first for giving me such a special

daughter that is turning 15 today and is no longer a girl but a daughter that is turning 15 today and is no longer a girl but a woman. I hope that the rest of life that is left for her to woman. I hope that the rest of life that is left for her to live is as wonderful as today.live is as wonderful as today.

What is a Quinceañera?What is a Quinceañera?

A Quinceañera is a A Quinceañera is a tradition that tradition that celebrates a girl’s celebrates a girl’s 1515thth birthday. birthday.

The celebration The celebration introduces a girl introduces a girl into society. It’s into society. It’s like her coming out like her coming out party. She is now a party. She is now a woman and can woman and can prepare for her prepare for her future.future.

History of the TraditionHistory of the Tradition This tradition was This tradition was

practiced by Aztecs practiced by Aztecs Indians for hundreds of Indians for hundreds of years.years.

The Spanish The Spanish Conquistadores observed Conquistadores observed the celebration and the celebration and adopted it.adopted it.

Why?Why?-----To convert the -----To convert the

indians to indians to Christianity.Christianity.

History of the History of the CelebrationCelebration

The Spaniards The Spaniards replaced the Altar replaced the Altar ceremony of the ceremony of the Aztecs with a Aztecs with a Christian church Christian church ceremony.ceremony.

Aztec Dance became Aztec Dance became the waltz.the waltz.

TraditionTradition In the tradition, there In the tradition, there

is a church service and is a church service and an extravagant party.an extravagant party.

A girl must choose God A girl must choose God parents, who will help parents, who will help

pay for the party.pay for the party.

A girl must also have 7 A girl must also have 7 Maids or Maids or Damas.Damas. They They represent her 14 years represent her 14 years of life.of life.

A girl must also have 7 A girl must also have 7 Chamberlain or Chamberlain or Chambelanes. (escorts Chambelanes. (escorts that will help walk the that will help walk the girls)girls)

Tradition……Tradition……Items the girl must have: (Some items have Items the girl must have: (Some items have

special significance)special significance)

””El vestido”--- The DressEl vestido”--- The Dress

Worn by the girl for her Worn by the girl for her introduction to society.introduction to society.

Tradition: Items neededTradition: Items needed

- - Corona-Corona- Tiarra Tiarra – –

---Symbolizes a princess ---Symbolizes a princess before God who is able to before God who is able to face future challenges. face future challenges. Also, means the crown of Also, means the crown of life the bible promises to life the bible promises to faithful Christians.faithful Christians.

El anilloEl anillo -Ring -Ring----Representing the unending ----Representing the unending

circle of life. circle of life. Representing the unending Representing the unending emergence and contributions emergence and contributions of a young woman to society.of a young woman to society.

La CruzLa Cruz ----Cross ----Cross------Signifies her faith in ------Signifies her faith in

God, herself and the World.God, herself and the World.

Traditions: Items NeededTraditions: Items Needed La Biblia-La Biblia---Bible--Bible---To help her keep the ---To help her keep the

word of God.word of God.

El SetroEl Setro -Scepter -Scepter---Symbolizes authority ---Symbolizes authority

and responsibility of and responsibility of her life.her life.

Ramo de Flores-Ramo de Flores------Flower Bouquet-----Flower BouquetSignifies life and its Signifies life and its

and offering to God.and offering to God.

Pastel-----Pastel---------Cake----Cake

Traditions: Items…Traditions: Items…

La Última Muñeca--The La Última Muñeca--The last dolllast doll

----Means the end of her ----Means the end of her childhood.childhood.

Libro de Invitados--Guest Libro de Invitados--Guest bookbook

El Album de Fotos-Photo El Album de Fotos-Photo albumalbum

La almohada-Kneeling La almohada-Kneeling pillowpillow

--The pillow she will use --The pillow she will use to kneel in church.to kneel in church.

La Fiesta de QuinceañeraLa Fiesta de Quinceañera

In Mexico, the In Mexico, the night before her night before her birthday, the birthday, the girl is girl is serenated.serenated.

Also, before a Also, before a girl can have her girl can have her birthday mass and birthday mass and party she must party she must have made her have made her first communion.first communion.

La Misa- The MassLa Misa- The Mass

The girl starts her The girl starts her day by attending a day by attending a mass in her honor.mass in her honor.

She sits in the She sits in the front of the altar.front of the altar.

Gifts like the Gifts like the cross, ring, bible cross, ring, bible and rosary are and rosary are blessed by the blessed by the priest.priest.

La Misa: The MassLa Misa: The Mass At the end of At the end of the ceremony, the ceremony, the girl places the girl places her bouquet on her bouquet on the altar to the altar to honor the virgin honor the virgin Mary.Mary.

La FiestaLa Fiesta

After mass, the girl After mass, the girl enters her party.enters her party.

Guests fill up the hall. Guests fill up the hall. The 7 damas and The 7 damas and chambelanes are chambelanes are introduced. Then, the introduced. Then, the Quinceañera is Quinceañera is introduced. She walks introduced. She walks in with her father.in with her father.

Her father sits her in a Her father sits her in a throne and changes her throne and changes her flat shoes to heels.flat shoes to heels.

Signifies her transition Signifies her transition from girl to woman.from girl to woman.

La FiestaLa Fiesta

Los Chambelanes Las DamasLos Chambelanes Las Damas

La FiestaLa Fiesta The mother changes her The mother changes her

head piece for the tiara. head piece for the tiara.

The party begins with a The party begins with a waltz danced with her waltz danced with her father and then her father and then her chambelanchambelan..

The girl gives her doll The girl gives her doll to her youngest sister or to her youngest sister or friend.friend.

There is a cake lighting There is a cake lighting ceremony.ceremony.