Published in the Sept. 2-15, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Mario Banuelos
Tirza Banuelos dances with her father, Mario Banuelos, at her quinceañera celebration held at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center. Photo courtesy Mario Banuelos
Mario Banuelos
A young girl’s coming-of-age celebration in traditional Latin America culture is her 15th birthday or “quinceañera.” This milestone is a rite of passage that signifies a transition from childhood to womanhood and marks a change in a young girl’s status within her family and community.
A quinceañera can either be commemorated with an elegant party (fiesta) or with a trip (viaje) to a distant location to learn and experience cultures outside of her immediate surroundings.
As our eldest daughter Tirza approached her 15th birthday, she shared with us her desire to have a traditional quinceañera party. Growing up, she had attended a few such celebrations and had ideas of how she would like to organize her own. She took the lead and planned the entire ceremony that included many symbolic rituals and customs.
First, Tirza selected her court, an entourage of friends and young family members that would accompany her, consisting of girls (“Damas”) and boys (“Chambelánes”). Her escort, or Galán, was her 19-year-old brother Frankie. Those who participated in the ceremony came from diverse backgrounds, and the whole celebration was an opportunity to exchange cultural norms and values.
A family member volunteered to measure and tailor the girls’ gowns. Such a gift traditionally is donated by padrinos, godparents or sponsors. Other ceremonial gifts include a tiara, a cross, Bible or prayer book and rosary, cake, flowers, photo album, and guest favors.
Valarie Banuelos poses with two “Roman soldiers” at the Colosseum in Rome during a trip her family enjoyed with her to celebrate her 15th birthday. Photo courtesy Mario Banuelos
Most quinceañeras begin with a large church ceremony similar to a wedding. However, our daughter’s event was less elaborate. The fiesta was held at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center with 230 guests. It began with a simple blessing by our parish priest instead of a full Mass.
We were honored to have close friends and family travel long distances to be at the celebration. The event was catered with Mexican food and a disc jockey was hired to provide music.
After Tirza and her court formally entered, the festivities began. First came the “crowning,” the ceremonial placing of the tiara on our daughter’s head representing her status as beloved princess for the day.
Next came the presentation of the scepter symbolizing a transfer of authority and responsibility. Here, I broke with tradition and gave my daughter a Louisville slugger baseball bat in place of her scepter. Tirza had played Spirit softball when she was younger, but had recently left the sport to concentrate on other school activities. The gift signified a new phase in her life with her having authority to shift her priorities.
The ceremonial gift of the last doll represents the transition into adulthood by leaving toys behind and assuming a new interest in adult life.
Tirza’s grandparents presented her with a cross necklace to hold her faith near her heart. Her godparents presented her with a pink-stone ring to commemorate the day and cling to memories of family.
Soon after, the lights dimmed and a spotlight shined on center stage where our daughter sat in a chair. It was time for the changing of the shoes ceremony. Her mother Fawn and I knelt before her and removed her flats that she had walked in with and replaced them with high heeled shoes, another symbol of womanhood. The flats were then ceremoniously handed over to Tirza’s younger 11-year-old sister, Valarie, to await her turn to grow up.
After replacing the shoes, I took Tirza’s hand and we waltzed. The dance ceremony begins with a father caring for his daughter, then slowly relinquishing her to other adult males who have watched her grow up. I felt a tap on my shoulder, and it was my father wanting the honor to dance with his granddaughter. Then her other grandfather and uncles lined up. After the waltz, our daughter and her court performed a series of choreographed dances representing the shift from a young girl cared for in her home to a young woman free to mingle with her peers.
Years later, when Valarie approached 15, she decided against a traditional quinceañera party and instead chose a trip. To mark her coming of age, she wanted to see more of the world, so we traveled to Italy. I have three female cousins from Mexico, and when each of them turned 15, they requested a trip to San Jose to visit family.
In August, the daughter of my cousin followed in her mother’s footsteps and spent her 15th birthday here with family in the South Bay and enjoyed the Friday Night Music Series right here in downtown Morgan Hill.
Our own community was new and different for this young woman and held wondrous opportunities to observe another culture and take away fond memories of her time in Morgan Hill.
The quinceañera customs and symbolic ways of celebrating are important observances for Latino families and their community as a rite of passage from childhood to adulthood.
Our family has photos of one daughter in a ball gown and tiara and the other daughter posing with two “Roman soldiers” at the Roman Colosseum. We are mindful of the rich and varied traditions we pass on to our children as we celebrate their milestones and they leave childhood behind.
Mario Banuelos is a resident of Morgan Hill. He wrote this column for Morgan Hill Life.
