The Quinceañera Mass, also referred to as La Ceremonia Religiosa or La Misa, is perhaps the most important element of the traditional Quinceañera. In general, this Misa de accion de gracias, or Thanksgiving Mass, commemorates the transition of the 15-year-old girl’s life from childhood to womanhood. The Quinceañera Mass may include a variety of traditional activities depending on the individual family.
Full Answer
What is a Quinceanera mass?
A traditional Quinceanera celebration takes place around the girl’s 15th birthday with a party and a mass, with the latter being the Quinceanera’s presentation before God and a promise to honor herself and her religion. Unlike a baptism or confirmation, a Quinceanera mass is not a Catholic sacrament.
What is a Fiesta de Quinceanera?
It is similar to the 'sweet sixteen,' but the fiesta de quinceañera is a huge celebration more like a wedding as far as preparations go. Many Latin American couples (except in Chile) celebrate with a fiesta de quinceañera when their daughter turns fifteen years of age.
What are the symbols of a Quinceanera?
Symbolisms of a Quinceanera mass. A crown or tiara, representing how God sees the Quinceanera as a princess, his daughter, a King. A natural bouquet of flowers to offer to the Virgin Mary (An artificial one is kept by the Quinceanera) The Bible and rosary, both foundations of her faith.
What to expect at a Mexican Quinceanera?
Food-wise, expect plenty of traditional Mexican dishes and an extravagant cake, usually of the tres leches variety. If a quinceañera is done traditionally, there are a whole variety of complex religious and symbolic elements that go into it.
What is a Misa at a quinceanera?
Today, many families who celebrate a Quinceañera still encourage the young lady to take part in a Misa de acción de gracias or “Thanksgiving Mass” to reaffirm her values and beliefs, and also to express gratitude to her family and friends. There can be many variations to the Quinceañera mass procession.
Do you have to be a virgin to have a quince?
A quinceañera is a celebration for latina girls who have reached the age of fifteen and have maintained their virginity, which is an honor that “deserves to be celebrated,” according to quinceanera.com.
What is a 15th birthday called in Spanish?
quinceañera, (Spanish: “15 years [feminine form]”) also called quinceaños or quince años or simply quince, the celebration of a girl's 15th birthday, marking her passage from girlhood to womanhood; the term is also used for the celebrant herself.
Is there a main Dama in a quinceanera?
The number of damas is totally up to the Quinceanera depending on how many girlfriends she has. Being a dama or a chambelan is a supporting role in a Quinceanera, but it's also an essential aspect of the ceremony because it represents the friendship shared with the celebrant as she enters womanhood.
What does chambelanes mean in English?
This group of friends is similar to a bride's wedding party and includes several female friends called damas and male friends called chambelanes.
Can you have a quinceañera at 16?
Obviously, the biggest one is age – a quinceanera is a celebration for a girl who is turning 15, while a sweet 16 party is simply a huge birthday bash for a young lady turning 16. Each type of party is extravagant, memorable and elaborate, but both definitely have a diverse set of differences you should be aware of.
Can a boy have a quinceañera?
The Quinceañero is essentially a quinceañera for guys, following many of the same quince años traditions but with a slightly different spin for males. The Quince Años celebration for boys most importantly marks the transition from child to adult at the fifteenth birthday.
What is Cena at a quinceañera?
la cena (lah SEH-nah) means 'the dinner.
What is a Mexican girl called?
La mujer/muchacha/chica/etc. mexicana for mexican woman.
What is a Chamberlain in a quinceanera?
Generally, the main chambelan is someone very close to the Quinceanera either a brother, cousin or relative. It can also be the case that he is her best friend from childhood, school or a neighbor.
What are padrinos de honor in a quinceanera?
The padrino and madrina is a long-standing quinceañera tradition. These are two adults who are selected by the birthday girl and her parents to fill a very important role. They not only help pay for the quinceañera; being asked is also a big honor because it's like being asked to be part of the family.
What is the last doll in a quinceanera?
The Last Doll The presentation of the doll is a special father-daughter moment that represents a Quinceanera's transition into adulthood. With this she leaves behind her toys to take on new roles, new interests in adult life, become independent, and assume responsibility.
What's a Quinceañera?
Imagine you get invited to a fiesta de quinceañera. You feel a bit nervous because you don't want to seem unaware of what the event means. Here is a pop quiz for you:
Princess for a Day
Mexico is famous for the way parents and the party girl prepare for the fiesta de quinceañera. On the big day, the girl wears a very noticeable dress that makes her look like a princess and some even wear a tiara. Let's begin with the special clothes first.
People Who Accompany the Quinceañera
The birthday girl does not walk into the reception hall all by herself. She has a corte de honor (KOHR-teh deh oh-NOHR), which translates as 'honoring group.' This is a group of male and female friends:
What is a Quinceanera?
What is a quinceañera? The quinceañera is a traditional celebration of life and gratitude to God on the occasion of the fifteenth birthday of a young Hispanic woman. The ritual emphasizes her passage from childhood to adulthood. The family usually requests a Mass or a blessing to be held in the Church.
Who is present for the Quinceanera?
The extended family, (grandparents, godparents, aunts, uncles and cousins) is usually present, to celebrate with the quinceañera. Esponsores, other couples acting as sponsors, may bring forward the blessed religious articles which are presented to the quinceañera. 9.
Why is the Quinceanera ritual important?
The quinceañera ritual is valuable for the religious message it sends not only to young people, but also to parents, grandparents, godparents and the entire parish in calling them to prayerfully join with youth in making a commitment to God and the Church. 14.
What was the Mozarabic Rite?
The ancient Mozarabic Rite of the Iberian peninsula had elaborate rituals marking the passage of baptized adolescents, each of which included specific references to Christian initiation and each of which was celebrated following the reception of Holy Communion at Mass.
What is the order for the 15th birthday?
Order for the Blessing on the Fifteenth Birthday (Quinceañera) Among several Spanish-speaking countries and among many Hispanics in the United States there is the custom of celebrating the passage from childhood to adolescence with a ritual that expresses thanksgiving to God for the gift of life and that asks for a blessing from God for ...
How many young men and women are in the procession of the Quinceanera?
In the presence of family and friends, the young woman (the quinceañera), often accompanied by fifteen young men and women of her choice (damas y chambelanes), enters the Church in procession, together with her parents and godparents. If she has prepared the readings, she may serve as the lector for at least one of the readings.
Is there a basis for the inclusion of young men in the rite of a Quinceanera?
There is no basis in the traditional usage, however, for the inclusion of young men in the rite. The celebration also can be a strengthening of the identity of the quinceañera within her family and as a Catholic, as well as an affirmation of the gift of women as a blessing to the Church.
What is the Quinceanera Mass?
During the Quinceanera mass, the young girl receives Holy Communion, makes an act of consecration to the Virgin Mary, gifts the Virgin Mary with a bouquet of flowers, and receives gifts that are blessed by the priest.
How long before a Quinceanera can you reserve a priest?
Anticipated time to reserve the church and availability of the priest. At least six months before the desired Quinceanera date. Also, suggest your proposed date for your celebration and inquire if the Priest would be willing to prepare you throughout the process.
What is a Quinceanera Mass?
Understanding a Catholic Quinceanera Mass. A Quinceanera is a coming-of-age ritual where a young girl renews her baptismal promises and is presented to her community as a young lady , the term also refers to the young girl who is being celebrated. A traditional Quinceanera celebration takes place around the girl’s 15th birthday with a party ...
What is the symbolism of a Quinceanera Mass?
These elements are: A crown or tiara, representing how God sees the Quinceanera as a princess, his daughter, a King.
What does the tiara represent?
A crown or tiara, representing how God sees the Quinceanera as a princess, his daughter, a King. A natural bouquet of flowers to offer to the Virgin Mary (An artificial one is kept by the Quinceanera) The Bible and rosary, both foundations of her faith. Ring, simbolizing unconditional love from God.
What do the Quinceanera girls receive?
During the Quinceanera mass, the young girl receives Holy Communion, makes an act of consecration to the Virgin Mary, gifts the Virgin Mary with a bouquet of flowers, and receives gifts that are blessed by the priest such as a ring, a tiara or a necklace. Similar to some sacraments, different symbolic elements represent the Quinceanera’s rite ...
What is Quinceanera celebration?
A traditional Quinceanera celebration takes place around the girl’s 15th birthday with a party and a mass, with the latter being the Quinceanera’s presentation before God and a promise to honor herself and her religion.
What are the symbolic elements of Quinceanera?
Similar to some sacraments, different symbolic elements represent the Quinceanera’s rite of passage from childhood into womanhood. The Bible, the tiara or crown, the bouquets and the people who accompany her, hold a spiritual meaning during the religious ceremony. Instagram. quinceanera.
What is the chambelan de honor?
The chambelan de honor is a young man who is chosen to be the Quinceanera’s date for the day. His role is an important one since he symbolizes the girl’s first male companion as a young lady. An older brother, cousin or friend of the celebrated, typically fills the role of the chambelan.
Origins
While the quinceañera celebrations may have more in common with a wedding than a birthday party, they’re a traditional and enduringly popular rite of passage for many young Latinas; turning 15 is considered a momentous occasion, as it is the moment that they symbolically become young women.
Aesthetics
Everyone is familiar with the extravagant aesthetics of many quinceañera celebrations – think over-the-top Disney Princess-esque dresses in outrageous colors (though tradition once dictated that only white dresses were the order of the day), tiaras towering atop painstakingly ringleted hairdos and precariously high heels.
Traditions
If a quinceañera is done traditionally, there are a whole variety of complex religious and symbolic elements that go into it. The first is that of attending mass prior to the reception (yes, the quinceañera celebration is very wedding-like), at which the quinceañera may receive a personalised pillow to kneel on.
Misconceptions
We’ve left out just one small detail about the quinceañera tradition, and that is the fact that using ‘quinceañera’ to refer to the party itself is a common misnomer (that we’ve employed throughout this piece!). In Spanish, quinceañera actually refers to the birthday girl, whereas the party is known as the fiesta de quince años. The more you know!
