The Quinceañeras myth

All Latin families know that when your daughter turns 15 a party is a must, but for some this must comes with huge debts and never ending payments that sometimes spoil all the fun.

The Quinceañeras tradition respects no borders, but here in the USA it is magnified by a consumption culture that seems to offer it all and is always ready to satisfy the needs of the Quinceañeras, while mom and dad hand over their hard-earned dollars.

In Latino families the Quinceañera celebration implies the transition from childhood to teenage years, and when a girl turns 15 she is given certain rights in the society. The physical changes in the girl are now obvious: she is blossoming and this should be celebrated, but this does not mean that she is ready for marriage, it only means she is considered a grown up with respect to certain social activities.

The party starts with a reception and a traditional father and daughter dance in which the girl is introduced into adult society. During pre-Colombian times, in the Mayan and Aztec societies, the celebration included a ritual dance and a meal with delicacies made for the occasion, but after the Spanish invasion it turned into a religious festivity and the dance was replaced by a Waltz and a Christian blessing. That is why in a lot of Latin American countries the family of the Quinceañera offers a Catholic mass for the birthday girl, and a lot of presents. Those presents may range from a car, a trip, to all kinds of expensive gifts.

In Tulsa there are some businesses dedicated to the Quinceañera industry, from haute- couture dresses that can cost you two thousand dollars to famous musical bands that will play live at your party for $20,000 to $30,000.

The venue and the catering options can cost you a fortune, even more than a marriage, but as there is nothing a dad wouldn’t do for his baby girl, money is spent regardless of its consequences. Sometimes people opt for super expensive options while they could do so much more for less, but people do everything to keep up appearances, especially when the reputation their daughter might be at risk.

But a wonderful event doesn’t have to make you go broke – Tulsa has options that provide a great atmosphere at a reasonable price. I had the chance of going to a Quinceañera recently at Strictly Ballroom located at 69th and Lewis, and was impressed by the floral arrangements, the table decorations and the organization of the event. The catering included traditional Mexican dishes and some sophisticated European exquisites.

The dance started and the girl was invited to dance by her dad and her closer male relatives, then came the godfathers who had accompanied the girl during the religious service and had to donate clothes and other items as gifts.

The Quinceañera is accompanied by a chambelan (honor escort) and 14 maids of honor accompanied by their dates, but not all girls have an entourage. (La Semana)