Quincenaera??

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-14-2007
Quincenaera??
8
Sun, 08-09-2009 - 12:08am

Have you ever heard of a Quincenaera celebration? If you are Hispanic, you would have. Here was our experience this morning....


John and I went downtown to our Old Towne district to the Farmer's Market. He had never been to FM before and I hadn't been to the one downtown in many years. It's always fun walking around in that area, great atmosphere. The FM, though, was disappointing. Years ago it was big, lots and lots of booths; but not nearly as many this morning. There was live music playing as usual, light jazz or folk type music with guitar and mandolin, which was nice. We bought two macadamia nut cookies and a nice sized piece of carrot cake that we later shared. We also bought a small bag of homemade treats for our Shelby dog. The fresh fruits & veggies looked so-so. We decided that from now on, we'll only go to the FM near our house, which is a very large one.


We left and walked a couple of blocks to a breakfast restaurant that we'd been to before and were hoping to eat al fresco. All of the tables were taken both indoors and outside though with a long waiting line, so we left. A few more blocks away, we passed one of our favorite restaurants and noticed a sign outside saying they were serving breakfast. In we went. This is such a beautiful restaurant with soft background music of classical, opera, Frank Sinatra ballads and other light easy listening music.....


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While enjoying a lovely breakfast, my husband told me to turn around and look into the park across the street. There was a group of six young men and one young lady dressed in what kind of looked like wedding attire, but different. You see, her formal gown was bright orange and the men were wearing white tuxedos with orange vests and ties and also wearing white derby style hats with wide orange ribbons around the hats. They were posing for photos in the park. I asked our server if she'd ever seen a wedding party like that before and she told us it looked like a Quinceneara celebration. She explained....


In Mexican culture, this is a 15th birthday celebration of a young lady to ackowledge that she is coming of age and in a few years will be elegible to marry. It begins with a special church mass and then continues with a reception. Traditionally, the honored ladies wore pastel gowns, but in America, they've begun wearing white gowns or bright colors. The parties can be simple, but many are very elaborate much like wedding receptions. I like learning new things and thought you might find this interesting too. Here is a typical gown....


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The rest of our day has been relaxing at home talking, reading and playing on the computer. John "cooked" dinner tonight...he went out and picked up an already cooked chicken from the deli and warmed up a can of green beans. He cut the chicken and placed the foods on our plates and served me. Good job John, you can "cook" for me anytime..LOL!!! He also cleaned it all up as he usually does. He's a keeper! ;)


I hope you've all had an enjoyable Saturday too. See you tomorrow!


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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-12-2003
Sun, 08-09-2009 - 3:47am

That was interesting,,

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-12-1997
Sun, 08-09-2009 - 8:53am
Yes, I'd heard of it, but have never seen a celebration in person.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-07-2001
Sun, 08-09-2009 - 9:33am
Yes I have. Quite elaborate and just shy of a debutante ball.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-14-2007
Sun, 08-09-2009 - 11:09am

Yea, it's like a debutante ball, or it is a debutante ball Mexican style.


Yea, J cooks..LOL!! He can also make mashed potatoes..remember me teaching him and the potatoes flying out of the bowl? LOL!! He can make breakfast too..eggs, turkey bacon, toast. What a guy! LOL!! That's okay, he's very good at taking me out to eat and that's my favorite kind of cooking! ;)


J had eggs over medium, spinach, home fried potatoes,


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-14-2007
Sun, 08-09-2009 - 2:24pm

Yes, it is a coming out celebration; but I'd never heard the term "Quincenaera" before. Probably because I know very few hispanic people..ya think?! lol! None of any type have ever been posted in the newspaper here either.


I've only seen coming out parties with white dresses and with only one escort. This one with the white tux's


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-14-2007
Sun, 08-09-2009 - 2:31pm

As I read, no personal experience, some are just as elaborate and formal as debutante balls, except that they are given for only one young lady at a time, and only after a special church ceremony,


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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-18-2003
Sun, 08-09-2009 - 2:56pm

Yep, I've heard of those celebrations....after all, I live in Mexico or at least

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-14-2007
Sun, 08-09-2009 - 3:47pm
Yep, I guess you would have heard of them then! LOL!



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