A Night to Remember
A quinceañera is a tradition in Latin America dating back to the 1500’s. It is a grand celebration for a girl’s 15th birthday, symbolizing her transition from childhood to womanhood and highlighting the significance of family and community in her life. It can be one of the most memorable events in a girl’s life, with as much time and effort put into it as a wedding!! As the daughter of two Mexican immigrants, I had the pleasure of participating in this tradition. All of my family and friends gathered in Nashville for a huge celebration, and it was magical! But, until 2 years ago, I had never experienced a true Mexican Quinceañera in Mexico. My little cousin, Allison had hers in Jerez, Zacatecas in July 2023! Can we get a round of applause for that pink dress?? SO pretty! This blog will be a recount of the special day and trip to my homeland….
The Star of the Show
Allison Aileen Flores Torres was born on June 11, 2008. Fun fact — we have the same birthday!!!! She is the daughter of Leonel Flores (my mother’s brother) and Carolina Torres — who were my godparents at my quinceañera! We have always been super super super close to my family in Mexico. Both families have traveled to visit in US and Mexico many times, and we keep in touch regularly! When we have the chance to get together (usually once a year), it’s the best time of year. Allison is smart, athletic, kind, and BEAUTIFUL! She is someone I’d want to be friends with in school. 😊 Celebrating her was easy and such a pleasure. She turned 15 in June 2023 and had her party the following month in July. My parents had the great honor of being her godparents for the mass before the party (as her parents did for me!). My brother was also a part of her court, which is made up of girls and boys to accompany her on her special day. The picture to the right is them!
Catholic Mass
The Catholic Mass before the quinceañera celebration is a beautiful and sacred moment to bless, honor, and acknowledge God’s presence in Allison’s life. During the service, the priest delivers a special homily focused on the quinceañera, emphasizing gratitude to God for her life and the many blessings she has received. This Mass celebrates the quinceañera’s faith journey, and she often takes this opportunity to reaffirm her commitment to God. The priest offers a heartfelt blessing, asking God to guide, protect, and love her as she steps into womanhood, ensuring His presence accompanies her on this new path. To the right is a picture of my parents and her parents with the quinceañera herself! This was taken right outside the church after the mass was given!
The Party!!
Traditions
Now for the fun part! The party took place in the same event venue where my parents got married—one of those charming small-town moments! It was so special to step into that space and picture my parents celebrating their love years ago. The night kicked off with family photos and with everyone mingling. After not seeing various family members for over a year, it was so refreshing to reconnect and catch up on all their latest adventures and life updates.
Tacos
Then, we ATE! My uncle catered a whole taco company to give all the guests all-you-can-eat tacos made to order. I included the picture of my plate…. the tacos were so yummy. I think I ate like 8 tacos in total… I have no regrets! We also had our favorite drinks like Fresca (grapefruit soda) and yummy infused waters! During the meal, I went from table to table, finding cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends who I hadn’t seen in forever! At this point, I had just come back from studying abroad so it was great to be able to tell everyone about my travels. I had great conversations with some of my favorite people in the world— and was grateful to be with family.
Turning 15
Then, the individual dances with the quinceañera started. It is tradition that the quinceañera has individual dances with people close to her. She danced with her father, cousins, and godfather (my dad!). To the left is a picture of them dancing, it was such a cute moment! From there, the party took off with a toast from my dad, and everyone started dancing and having fun! We danced, danced, and danced some more. After the venue kicked us out at 12, we went to get MORE tacos at a taco stand in the town center. Best night ever. ❤️
Family is an essential pillar in Mexican culture, so these moments I get to spend with my family that live so far from me are so special. Thanks for reading! I hope you all enjoyed reading about this amazing day, I cherish these moments with family close to my heart!
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Salud,
Cristy ❤️
