The Economy Hits Us Where It Hurts: Quinces Parties

Looks like Yeslaysis won’t be jumping out of a papier-mâché recreation of David this year thanks to the stupid recession - the poor economy has forced some families to scale back on quinces celebrations. IT ISN’T FAIR!

At a time when some estimate the quinceañera industry has shrunk by about 15% in the past year, party planners say that rather than forego a quinces altogether, some are opting to go cheaper by shortening guest lists (sorry Tio Freddie, but you sealed your fate when you tried to get Cousin Letty to sit on your lap at her communion party), choosing chicken in place of filet mignon wrapped in lobster and opting out of renting a stretch Humvee. 

Says Margo Della, director of catering and sales for the Marriott hotel in Mission Valley:

People are looking for more value and bang for the buck. They’ll come back to you and say, ‘You know, about that ice sculpture . . . ‘ or, ‘Can I have someone else do the cake for less?’ 

Which begs the question: Why not just skip the quinces? Our suspicions veer less towards trying to please a spoiled daughter - after all, not every young Latina would make it onto MTV’s My Super Sweet Sixteen or even wants a 15s party to begin with - and more about trying to “keep up appearances” where neighbors and family members are concerned. If you can’t keep up with the Johnsons, then perhaps you can compete with the Jimenezes when it comes to throwing a quinces. 

Adds DJ Charlie Bradley, who often emcees quinces celebrations:

And these daughters, let’s face it, they expect it. I meet 9-year-old girls who look forward to their quinceañera. The economy might change drastically between now and 2015, but when the day comes, they are ready to go. They have been planning all along.

Maybe these 9-year-olds look forward to these parties because they are rewarded for doing so rather than being rewarded for, say, doing well in school and looking forward to college. Maybe they see the excitement in their family members and peers and feel obligated to ask for and want a quinces.

Whatever the reason, we have to wonder whether it’s prudent to continue an adherence to a tradition that has become more about lavish displays of wealth than about celebrating a young woman’s foray into adulthood - especially when it means Latinos in the U.S. feel compelled to live beyond their means and practice irresponsible spending during a recession.

Economy has Latinos downsizing quinceañeras [Sign On San Diego]