Nora Medrano
EDFR 6388.01
Dr. O’Connor
20 September 2013
Joanna’s Quinceañera
In this picture we see Joanna at
Templo Aposento Alto church
downtown Brownsville, Tx. with a
crown on her head symbolizing her as
a princess in the eyes’ of God. Joanna
is getting a word of advice from the
pastor. The pastor is advising Joanna
of her role in the community and
passing from a child to a young lady.
This ceremony serves to rededicate
Joanna’s faith and renew her vows
with God.
Figure 1
In this picture we see Joanna with her
parents and the pastor receiving a
blessing as a family. The pastor is
giving a blessing and also advices the
parents that they now have a young
lady and not a child anymore. They
take responsibility to give guidance
and give her advice in the new phase
of her life. They accept and close the
acceptance and word in prayer asking
God for guidance In order to take this
big responsibility and remind her of
God’s word and love.
Figure 2
Every quinceañera has padrinos, which
serve as guidance for Joanna. The
padrinos play a big role for many young
ladies because they could count on them
for advise and could even be there for the
young lady incase her parents’ cease. The
padrinos give the quinceañera a gift as a
resemblance of faith. In this case these
padrinos gave Joanna a pair of earrings.
The resemblance of the earrings is to
remind Joanna to keep her ears tuned to
God. Since they were given at the church
ceremony, the pastor prays over them to
bless them. This is a great deal for the
quinceañera they are very special to her.
Figure 3
Time has come for the party after the church
service. There is a lot of planning done for
this part of the process for the quinceañera.
The parents together with the padrinos get
food ready, centerpieces, decorations for the
hall, and of course the dress. At this point in
time when they are arriving to the ballroom,
the parents, the mother on one side and the
father on the other side walk Joanna through
the dace floor and around all the tables
introducing their daughter to all the party
attendees. This part of the quinceañera is
very importance because the parents are
showing their daughter to society and to the
rest of the world not as a child but as a young
lady.
Figure 4
Figure 5
Towards the end of the party, which typically ends
about 12 AM for quinceañeras, the parents together
with their immediate family take time to take some
pictures for memories. Here we see the mother,
father, two younger siblings, and the quinceañeras
boyfriend. The family takes pictures together to
build memories and usually put an album together
for the quinceañera for her to look over, as she gets
older. Everyone here is happy and having a good
time, enjoying family, friends, good food, and great
music. What you all don’t know is that the
quinceañera has not opened her surprise gift yet- this
is a gift given by a padrino to give to Joana. She is
anxiously awaiting for picture time to finish to go
open her gift. Want to know what it was? It was “la
ultima muneca”. This is very valuable to her because
this symbolizes her trading her toys for grown up
responsibilities.
The quinceañera is a celebration where a young girl celebrates her 15th birthday of life. This
custom dates back to 600 years ago when the Mayan and Aztecs celebrated young girls into young
woman hood and eligible to marry and take responsibilities upon her community. Catholicism was
the main religion involved with quinceañera celebrations but throughout time the Spaniards began
celebrating and other religions like Christians began to celebrate as well. Many different countries
celebrate a quinceañera but it is named and celebrated differently according to their beliefs, religion,
and customs. For example in Argentina a quinceañera is referred to a “fiesta de quince”, in Brazil it
is considered a “fiesta de debutantes”, and in Ecuador it is simply considered as a “quince”.
Since Joanna is Mexican American we will look more into depth about custom and traditions
in Mexican quinceañeras. In Mexico the quinceañera wears elegant makeup, a beautiful formal
ballroom dress- this is usually pink but in many occasions the quinceañera chooses another color,
personal hair-do, and wears a crown on her head which symbolizes that she is a “princess” in God’s
eyes. If the quinceañera is Catholic she begins with a mass service, if the quinceañera is Christian,
she also begins with a church service involving different steps. At the church service the father or
pastor gives “words of advice” just like seen on Figure 1. Here the quinceañera receives advice and
blessings from the pastor in which he tells her that she is no longer a child but a young woman and
explains that she is now ready to take responsibilities and be part of the community. This continues
with the “parent’s blessings” as seen on Figure 2. At this time the parents give a blessing to the
quinceañera and usually pray for her and accept the responsibility upon them to guide her spiritually
and guide her throughout her life. The padrinos or Godparents give the quinceañera a gift as a
resemblance of transitioning from a girl to a young woman as seen in Figure 3. After church service,
she is then taken to the party location where she arrives with her parents, godparents, and court. The
court usually consists of a chosen group of friends who are paired-off girl and boy. This group of
young men and woman are the quinceañeras friends and usually prepare a dance together with the
quinceañera to entertain the attendees.
The celebration at the dance hall or reception consists of six steps in which is not
usually followed because of different religions and celebration preferences. This consists of first, the
quinceañeras formal entrance once everyone is in the ballroom as seen in Figure 4, a toast
(optional), a first dance made by the quinceañera herself and her father. If the quinceañera does not
have a father it would be her grandfather, uncle, or a man who is very close to her, which she looks
up to and is a father figure to her. Then we have the family dance which is usually only for the close
family members then there is a favorite song which is usually a show the quinceañera puts together
with her court to entertain her family and friends. Finally, we have the general dance for all her
friends and family to enjoy and have a great time celebrating. Once these gestures and entertainment
has been completed a seated dinner or appetizers are proceeded. Music bands or DJ begins to play
while people are having dinner and talk to one another and or dance. Throughout the day the family
of the quinceañera or a padrino pays for pictures to be taken throughout to have memories of her
special day. The pictures are taken at the church service and at the reception hall event. The
quinceañera takes some time from having so much fun with friends to take pictures with family as
seen in Figure 5. This is a day the quinceañera will never forget this special occasion full of
laughter, happiness, family, and friends. According to (Ochs & Shohet, 2006) “Cultural sites are
given life through recurrent social participation and longevity through efforts to socialize novices
into the predilections, sentiments, and actions that undergird meaningful participation”. One day
Joanna will have the privilege and opportunity to share this special with her future daughter,
although she might not do things exactly as her mother did she will still share a Mexican tradition
and remember her childhood all over again. Through this “learning experience” according to
(Dewey) she is making that forward and backwards connection, which is the reason there is an
experience, and we do them because they provide this joy or consequence in our life.
References
(2001). Democracy and education by john dewey a penn state electronic classics series
publication. Retrieved from https://myutb.blackboard.com/bbcswebdav/pid-3969113-dt-content-rid13519076_2/courses/2013FA_EDFR_6388_01/Dewey - Democracy & Education.pdf
Ochs, E., & Shohet, M. (2006). The cultural structuring of mealtime socialization. 35-49.
Retrieved from https://myutb.blackboard.com/bbcswebdav/pid-3969125-dt-content-rid13519087_2/courses/2013FA_EDFR_6388_01/Ochs & Shohet 2006 - Cultural structuring of
mealtime socialization.pdf
The meaning of a quinceanera. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.bilingualminister.com/uploads/3/0/8/3/3083307/the_meaning_of_a_quinceanera_1.pdf
Quinceañera. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinceañera