Quinceañera Parties Are A Good Way To Prove You’re Not Poor As You Spiral Into Debt
19 October 2009, 3:00 PM. By Alex Alvarez
CNN featured an article today about what quinceañeras are and what the tradition of a quinces means for Latino families. And, unfortunately, one of the big takeaways from their look into this age-old cultural tradition is that it’s an excuse to show off one’s material wealth.
Take a look at the party planned by the Cuban-American Ferro family:
Jenny and her mother, Marlene Ferro, have worked out every detail of the party well in advance, from the rehearsal to the reception to the flower girl [Ed. note: Que coño es esto... Flowers girls at a quinces?] and the music. The theme of the party is bedazzled.
First, there is the dress, which Marlene had designed specially for her daughter. It cost about $800. Then there are the shoes, high-heeled and silver to match the dress. During the party, the high heels will be ceremoniously slipped onto her feet to replace her flat shoes — a symbolic transition of her journey from childhood to womanhood.
“It makes her look like a princess,” gushes Marlene Ferro.
But does the “journey” from childhood to womanhood really have to be all about materialism? Is the focus on the dress and the shoes, or the person wearing them? The sometimes financially crippling cost of these celebrations, and the tendency to turn the planning of such parties into a fraught game of “Keeping Up With The Garcias,” is breezed over in this article by author Michele Salcedo, who has quite literally written the book on quinceañeras. It is called, appropriately enough, Quinceañera!:
Sometimes people go way overboard and [spend] much more on the celebration than they can afford and that’s the downside of the quinceañera,” says Salcedo. “Because when it’s done right it can be a beautiful family celebration and a celebration of a milestone that a young girl goes through.
But the downside goes deeper than that. If these parties are the way our families show mainstream America that we’ve made it, we’ve got to question what making it means - Being in debt? Placing value on material possessions? Stressing out about a celebration and worrying whether others will be adequately impressed?
Quinceañeras often symbolize family’s hard work, success [CNN]
Related:
The Catholic Community Would Like To Know Why You Didn’t Invite Jesus To Your Quinces
Guanabee Talks To Adrian Chen About His Quest To Help Stephanie Sanchez Win The Quinces Of Her Dreams
Dishonorable Intentions: What The Eff Is A Quinceañera’s Dama Del Honor Supposed To Do Anyway?
It Was Only A Matter Time Until Quinceañeras And WWE Wrestlers Collided
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i hate that they generalize that all latina girls want this. my mexican-american daughter turned 15, i asked her if she wanted one. her response: “no, mom, save the money for college - or a trip to paris for me”
Haha, that was my exact response when asked!
It does strike me as something of an empty gesture a lot of the time because, while fun and a nice way to connect with Latino culture, it’s not like many of us really need to *present* ourselves to society or declare ourselves ready to be courted at 15.
i also opted for a trip. besides, i hate people looking at me now, i was much worse at 15.
I turned 15, my parents gave me a hug and twenty bucks.
I had not even heard of a quinceañera until I was in my early 20s. And I don’t understand the point of one, and I suppose I never will.
Lets not forget the effect on your Latino brethren. While in high school, my parents forced me into two of these things (friends of theirs). They then proceeded to bitch me out about having to drive me to rehearsals, paying for tux rentals, and having to buy a present.
Thanks mom and dad!
You know, from now on make sure that every post about quinceañeras links back to this:
http://guanabee.com/2008/05/great-quinces-of-fire/
Which proves, once again, that the journey from childhood to womanhood inevitably involves flames, dresses ripped to shreds, Scorpions music, and lava-hot tequila down one’s cleave.
holy shit. that video was great. see, even more reason not to spend nearly 1k on SYNTHETIC fibers.
HAHAHa, that is so true.
All they show off is their ignorance and stupidity.
No offense.
Last one i went to was great, but, the thing is that now that family who threw the big party is now living in a shelter because they did not have money to pay for their rent.
So much for spending like 15 thousand(i think). Limo, big building, etc etc.
For what?
Because it is a “tradition”?
Not even whites are dumb enough to throw a sweet sixteen if they see they are in debt.
Woah, woah, WOAH! Don’t think this post is license for you to insult latinos.
If you are poor and you are throwing lavish parties…you deserve the following titles:
Stupid, ignorant, mentally ill.
Don’t call what you don’t agree with an Insult…especially when it is true, mannnn. YOU KNOW IT IS TRUE.
WHO SPENDS THOUSANDS ON PARTIES WHEN THEY ARE IN DEBT?
watttttt. Why do you think that family i talked about is now living in a shelter?!?!?!
Certainly not because of “luck”; It’s because of their stupidity(or ignorance, whichever sounds better for you). Sad, but true :(
“If you are poor and you are throwing lavish parties…you deserve the following titles:
Stupid, ignorant, mentally ill…”
You forgot a title: The United States Treasury.
I also refused a big quinces party. Instead, I ended up celebrating my 15th birthday at midnight while on a bad date at Miami Subs with some loser from our favorite all-boys prep school. Then, we went to the movies and watched “The Ninth Gate” with a bunch of idiots I don’t talk to anymore. Pretty uneventful, but I’m still glad I didn’t ask my parents to blow money on some ridiculous extravaganza.
If I had, however, I would’ve wanted to make my entrance on a paper mache dolphin.
I have been to several of these parties and the hosts did not spend thousands of dollars. Don’t believe anything CNN says about Latinos. I HATE CNN and I wish they would just leave us alone.
The idea behind the rite-of-passage into adulthood gets lost in American materialism. The point of this tradition is to welcome the youth into the company of adults. They are no longer a child but a young adult. The ceremony represents an undertaking of responsibility and privilege. In America this concept was lost with the emergence of the ‘teenage’ culture and a so-called developmental phase called ‘adolescence’ has been inserted between childhood and adulthood. Being a teenager is now the rite-of-passage in America. The rituals include a series of firsts; e.g. the first cigarette, the first rated ‘R’ movie, losing ones virginity, etc… If a rite-of-passage ceremony is performed with the proper preparation and focus, it can be a beautiful and life changing event; not only for the individual going through the ceremony but for those that are directly involved in the life of that individual.
When I was in high school, I was ‘volunteered’ by my mother to escort several Quinceañeras. I remember looking forward to sneaking in some beer or a bottle of Patron to the dance. I looked forward to the possibility of ‘getting lucky’ with one of the girls at the party – hey, I was in a white tux! Not once did I understand what the ceremony was all about. Looking back, I wish it would have been explained to me. I’ve got good memories, but they could have been better.
I always assumed the rite of passage for a teenager was being able to polish off a super big gulp under ten minutes. I don’t know. Perhaps we’re just from different generations or something.
Ha! That’s funny. Back in the day we only had the ‘Big Gulp’ and I thought THAT was an incredibly big drink! The Super Big Gulp is crazy, like a 2 liter on ice…
i asked my parents for a quinceñero, not “a” but they laughed at me and opted on giving me a gold chain…not the same.