This weekend we had a chance to attend a Quinceañera for a girl that used to be our neighbor. They moved a few years back but they always make a point to stop by at Halloween and it’s always cool to see them and how much they’ve grown! Well the other week Lizeth stopped by and delivered an invitation to her 15th birthday (Quinceañera). I can’t believe she’s fifteen! She was just a tiny kid when she lived next door!
Cassie with our former neighbor Lizeth
It was held at Island Grove Park in Greeley. There are numerous buildings out there that are used for a lot of different events. There were actually two quinceanera parties going on at the same time in two different buildings. We accidentally went to the wrong one at first, but it was cool to see two different ways of throwing a similar party. Island Grove is also where the Greeley Stampede is held every year.
Living in Greeley has allowed me the opportunity to live closely with lots of people with lots of different backgrounds. There are Russians, Germans, , Mexicans, Somalis, etc. The Quinceañera is a pretty big Mexican celebration. I hadn’t ever been to one before.
I’d describe it like a wedding. It’s a pretty big production with lots of food, drink, music and dance. The food was good. Really good. I love tortillas and meat and there was plenty of it! In fact there were two buildings being used for separate parties. From what I understand the whole family chips in. Someone will buy food, someone entertainment, someone will rent the place, etc. I imagine that makes these huge celebrations much easier to throw! It would be pretty expensive for one person to pay for.
We got a visit by the Mariachi Singer that made Cassie turn bright red!
It was fun to see two different parties (Lizeth on the left and the other one on the right)
It really reminded me of a traditional American wedding -for one person instead of two. Except instead of a garter belt they do a ‘shoe change’. From what I understand this is a change from ‘flats’ to ‘heels’. Traditionally in the past women weren’t allowed to wear heels until after they turned 15 and started womanhood. A Quinceanera is sort of like an old fashioned debutante ball. Then they have chamberlains and dance. There are supposed to be 14 pairs of young people dancing together, plus the quinceanera (the girl turning 15) and her partner to represent 15 or in Lizeth’s case, she just had the boys plus her.
After the traditional stuff, it is a big dance for everyone to join in on!
Greeley is more Mexico than Mexico. In the year I spent in Cuernavaca, I never saw such elaborate and expensive parties for the 15 year olds (or anyone else for that matter, including a wedding and many fiestas). It was mostly just backyard parties with Mom’s cooking, a few quitars from the cousins and neighbors or church friends. Sometimes the party was in the church hall with punch and cookies, but always music even if taped. Just shows you the affluence of U.S. Hispanics, and how the traditional culture is changing towards western standards of fancy low cut gowns,jewelry, lots of makeup, dyed hair and elaborate ritual not seen south of the border. Mexican girls in country have been traditionally modest, well covered up, with very little makeup. Dates through age 18 are chaperoned or allowed only in very public settings, etc. Wow, the boys in Mexico would go crazy with these outfits.
I thought the Mariachi singer was a stud.
All just amazing.
That is pretty fancy. I wonder how much total one of those costs? Glad to see you posting again B 🙂 Kind of reminds me of a sweet 16 party/wedding. Cool.
Greeley wont ever be Mexico.Same wayNew York City and Orlando wont ever be Puerto Rico ,Miami be Cuba or San Francisco be Beijin.Th right word would be different than past generations.It is like everything is changing . Todays Hispanics are this generation Baby Boomers and who knows if China became tomorrows USA