By: Arturo Benitez-Osorio

In the middle of the picture is my cousin on her 15th birthday. In our culture, we do something called a quinceañera.

It’s a tradition in Latin American culture when a girl celebrates her 15th birthday. Many celebrations begin with a Catholic mass to honor the occasion; then the party starts. Many quinces use a doll to represent the birthday girl, symbolizing the end of her childhood and the father swaps her flat shoes to high heels to represent that she’s ready for womanhood. Then everyone dances and eats a variety of Latino food.

How did quinceañeras?

Long before European arrival, the Mayans and Aztecs celebrated the age of 15 as the end of puberty. It marked a young woman’s readiness for marriage or community service.

Fun facts

The honor of damas and chambelanes: This represents the young woman’s closest peers supporting her transition. The girl is usually accompanied by 14 damas and chambelanes representing the 14 years of her childhood, plus herself to make it 15.

The mass before her birthday party: Its a Spanish/Catholic religious tradition/ceremony of a quinceañera of a way of giving thanks and renewing baptismal vows, with a special blessing as she transitions from childhood to womanhood.

The last doll: The birthday girl will give away her favorite doll to a younger sibling or relative signifying the end of her childhood