| What is a quinceanera?
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| | The Quince girl receives the tiara and
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| The Quinceanera is a tremendous event in
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| | scepter from her grandmother,
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| Latin culture, one rich with tradition
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| | memorializing her arrival as a young
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| and heritage. So much so that an outside
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| | woman. When the Mass is over she will
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| visitor to the Quince celebration might
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| | sometimes leave the flowers on the
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| feel overwhelmed by the terms and
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| | church's altar as a prayer offering.
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| traditions.
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| | The Quinceanera Fiesta
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| What is a chambelane? Why does the girl
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| | The fiesta is a time to celebrate the
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| change shoes at the fiesta? Why are there
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| | occasion. The Quince girl may have up to
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| so many people in the court?
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| | several hundred guests in a party that
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| If you're planning to attend a
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| | lasts well into the night. Music plays a
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| Quinceanera but you're not sure what it
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| | large role, as does dancing.
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| means or why the celebration is
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| | Traditionally, the quince girl will first
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| important, read on.
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| | dance with her father after receiving her
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| The Quinceanera
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| | first pair of zapatillas, or heeled
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| A Quinceanera celebrates a Latina girl's
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| | shoes. The second dance is for her
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| fifteenth birthday, or quince anos - her
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| | honored escort, or chambelane de honor.
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| official coming of age within her
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| | The honor court, or corte de honor,
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| community. The Quinceanera, sometimes
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| | consists of the men and women who stand
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| abbreviated to simply "Quince," is an
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| | with the Quince girl at her fiesta. In
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| ancient custom with its roots in Aztec
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| | modern times, it includes seven
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| fertility rites and European debutante
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| | chambelanes, or escorts; and damas, or
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| balls. The traditional Quinceanera
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| | ladies. Combined with the quince girl,
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| includes a Misa de Acción de Gracias, or
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| | the court totals fifteen young men and
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| Thanksgiving Mass, at her family's
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| | women. In times past, all the damas would
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| church. Following the Mass, the girl
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| | wear a different colored dress, achieving
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| attends a fiesta in her honor.
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| | a rainbow effect. Modern gowns more
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| The Quinceanera is second only to a
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| | closely coordinate with the quince girl's
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| woman's wedding day among important
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| | gown, much like brides and bridesmaids.
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| occasions. It's a time when the whole
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| | The quince girl's father will usually
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| community celebrates.
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| | make a toast to her daughter's continued
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| The Quinceanera Mass
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| | health and good fortune. The ultima
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| The Quince girl attends the Misa de
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| | muneca is also sometimes given to one of
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| Acción de Gracias accompanied by her
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| | the younger girls present - often a
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| parents, grandparents, and a special set
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| | younger sister or cousin. It is sometimes
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| of godparents chosen for the occasion
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| | thrown in the air, as a wedding bouquet.
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| (called padrinos). At the beginning of
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| | Finally, the quince girl and her parents
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| the Mass, the girl presents her ultima
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| | will extend their thanks to the guests.
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| muneca, or last doll, and exchanges it
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| | While this was sometimes done to draw the
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| for a bouquet of flowers, called el ramo.
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| | celebration to a close, in modern times
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| During the ceremony, the priest blesses
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| | it is often performed near the beginning
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| several items including a new Bible, a
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| | of the fiesta, while everyone is present.
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| rosary (rosario), a tiara, and a scepter.
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