Quineañera

== = = =Quinceanera= A Quinceanera is an important custom in Hispanic communities throughout the world. It’s celebrated on a girl’s 15th birthday. Her family saves up money for the big party that will be celebrated in her honor. The party may include music, catered food, or limousines. It symbolized a girl transferring form childhood to womanhood. The event began over 400 years ago in Latin America, to initiate, instruct, and reinforce important cultural ideas. The birthday girl delivers 15 candles to people she considers were most influential in her development during her 15 years. It’s often accompanied with a speech. The girl wears a special gown that is either white or pale pink. She is given a tiara, along with other gifts. The tiara symbolizes her leaving childhood behind. She also gets a cross or medal as a sign of her religion, which is likely Catholic. A beautiful scepter is also given to her. The girl and her father dance and her father replaces his daughter’s flat shoes with high heels to show that she is moving forward and becoming a woman. The birthday girl also has a “last doll” that represents the childhood the girl is leaving behind. Food is a big party of a girl’s Quinceanera. She has a magnificent cake that is similar to a wedding cake. The cake has a doll on the very top and 14 other dolls are placed on the cake to look like they are climbing to the top. Mole is common dish served in Mexico. It is a sauce containing chocolate that is poured over some type of meat. Picallo is also served. It’s main component of Hispanic tacos. Pan de Polvo are shortbread cookies. They are sometimes dusted with powdered sugar. Finger foods like mini sandwiches or cubed cheese are sometimes served as well. The family and guests are given Arroz Con Leche or rice with milk as a desert-like dish. The guests are usually given party favors with treats in them like mints.

