The Quinceanera

I was looking through racks and racks of wedding gowns when a bright pink, sparkly ball gown emerged through the billows of white. My first thought was, "who in the world would want to walk down the aisle in this thing?" Then, I realized nobody would. It was a Quinceanera gown. My search for the perfect wedding dress reminded me of a special part of Tucson culture that has come from Mexico - the Quinceanera celebration.

Being from Scottish-Irish decent, this celebration was a bit of a mystery to me. So I decided to ask some questions and figure out why so many bridal shops in Tucson are selling these gowns. I had a discussion with a friend, Katrina, who has grown up in a very large Mexican family, and has been to quite a few of these celebrations.

Katrina went to a Quinceanera last weekend, and gave me a description of the event. Basically, the whole things is about introducing a girl as a young woman to God and her family on her 15th birthday. At last weekend's celebration Katrina told me there was a church service, which is typical. The girl is presented to God, and prayers are said. Following the church service is the reception. "They all walked in like people do at a wedding," she said. "The girl was escorted by her father, and after she was announced, they started a waltz." She told me another typical Quinceanera tradition is the shoe ceremony. The girl's father takes off her flat shoes and replaces them with high-heels, symbolizing her transition into womanhood.

Katrina didn't have her own Quinceanera, but said she thinks they're fun. "It reminds me of a sweet 16. I think it means more in Mexico though, and maybe people are doing it here more to throw a big party."

My husband and I got a glimpse of a Quinceanera celebration about two-weeks-ago while we were driving past the Z-Mansion in downtown Tucson. We saw a girl in a huge purple gown surrounded by guys in tuxedos, having professional pictures taken in front of a limo. Now, I don't look down on this tradition in any way, but my question is:

If a 15-year-old girl buys an expensive ball gown (they often cost as much as a wedding gown), has a church ceremony followed by a reception at the Z-Mansion, dances the waltz with her father, and has professional photos taken, how will she top that on her wedding day? Is the American celebration of the Quinceanera more ostentatious that it was originally meant to be?

I would love to hear what other people think about this, so post a comment if you have something to say.

Either way, Tucson has become a Quinceanera-friendly city. So ladies, when you are shopping for your wedding gown and a huge purple dress pops out from the throngs of white, don't cringe at the thought of somebody walking towards her groom wearing it.

(This You Tube video shows a girl preparing for her Quinceanera. Does anyone think she looks like a bride?)