A Mexican Girl
A Mexican Girl
A Mexican Girl
A quince años party is not just a normal birthday party with cake, candles, and presents. It’s a
very important event in a girl’s life. It’s very similar to a wedding. The quinceañera (the girl
who is turning 15) is like the bride. She wears a beautiful dress. She goes to the party with a
boy her age called a chambelán. She also has a group of seven girls and seven boys – her
‘court’ – that follow her. The girls all wear the same dress, and the boys wear tuxedos or suits
with the same colours. Just like a wedding, there’s a ceremony first, and then there’s a party
afterwards.
At the party, there is food, drinks, music, and dancing. The girl usually dances a special dance
with her father. There is also usually a big cake, a photographer, and a DJ or a band. The party
is a lot of work, and it can be very expensive. The girl and her parents usually start to plan at
least a year before the event. It’s a really important day for a young woman!
‘My quince party was one of the best days of my life. I think it was bigger than my wedding,’
says Aracely Rivera, a Mexican American from San Diego. Her daughter Jessica is going to have
her quince party this June, on the day of her 15th birthday. ‘Jessica’s party is going to be really
great, too. Some of our family are going to come from Mexico to be here. My brothers Memo
and Javier play in a mariachi band, and they’re going to play at the party. My sister Gaby is
going to take the photos.’ Mrs Rivera says that she and her daughter started to plan the party
more than a year ago. ‘First we found a place for the party. Later we sent invitations and
bought dresses, flowers, decorations, a cake. It’s so much work! But it’s going to be beautiful.
Jessica is going to dance with her father to the song Mi viejo by Vicente Fernández. I danced
with my father to that song, too!’
Jessica is excited about her party, too. ‘It’s going to be a fantastic day,’ she says. ‘I’m going to
stay out late and have lots of fun!’