La Quinceañera
Website Project Draft
Abstract
The Quinceañera is a folklore genre that has traditions in Latinx and Hispanic communities. Specifically I will go over the tradition in general and how it has been influenced over time, like how now it can often be influenced by pop culture like with the music or involving a limo and common party themes. Some Quinceañeras are influenced by family traditions and religious traditions, and some like now have a mix of religious, family, and modern traditions.
In a basic sense the Quinceañera is a celebration of a girl’s 15th birthday party. It is celebrated by many families in Mexico, the U.S., and Latin America. It is a celebration that combines many different things like family, religious customs, and celebrates the girl growing older from being a child to maturity. Each family has its own take on the Quinceañera and how they celebrate it. Some of the customs include : religion, friends, family, music, dancing, and food.
Traditions
Some families have a big part of the ceremony in religious ways and at churches, for some who practice Christian or Catholic religions. Another key part of the celebration is the people who attend the Quinceañera. There is a court of people who are chosen by the girl to make up her court and have a special part in the celebration and the people in the court can be either all boys (chambelanes), girls (damas), or a mixture of both. The girl wears a ball gown and it was traditionally white, but now girls tend to wear whichever color they like. The theme used to also be traditionally religious, but girls can choose which theme they like. The guests are family and friends, and young and old.
Lately many Quinceañeras have modern influences and parts in the ceremony, like riding in a limousine similar to how some people ride in limousines to go to prom. Some Quinceañeras also don’t have religious themes, so some people just celebrate coming of age and traditions with their friends and family. Another more recent tradition is photo booths. This celebration, the Quinceañera is an important celebration that takes a long time to plan out and prepare for. Some families spend little money, or a lot of money for the celebration of the girl and her gifts. This celebration and its aspects and traditions make it a form of folklore. The practices at this celebration allows the girl and her family to have their individual traditions celebrated as well as things like music, food, and dancing. Some Quinceañeras have traditional music in Spanish, and others have more modern music, in English and in Spanish. Some common themes of Quinceañeras are: Masquerade ball, Winter wonderland, Under the sea, and Disney.
While the Quinceañeras are a celebration, some of the aspects of it can be heteronormative and patriarchal. The way that women and girls are often feminine and how gender norms are enforced can be because of how society is and expectations.
Bibliography
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