A quinceañera is a celebrated tradition that transitions a young girl into a woman. It is marked with a festive celebration to commemorate a girl’s 15th birthday. It is generally celebrated in Mexico and other Latin American countries where Catholicism is rampant. It is a Latina’s very own sweet sixteen.

Celebrating a quinceañera

A quinceañera includes a mass in church followed by a themed party. During mass, a girl is given thanks and encouragement for her transition into a young woman. The party includes a father-daughter dance that commemorates her closeness to her papí. There is also a group of boys called Chambelanes, who escort the girl and perform a choreographed dance with the quinceañera. This event also includes a moment of “el primer ramo de flores” which translates to a bouquet of flowers. It symbolically signifies an offering of a bouquet of flowers, the first flowers given to the quinceañera to symbolize that she is a good woman. Despite the vibrant and symbolic festivities, a small percentage of Latinas are choosing alternative celebrations.

When a quince is not for me

For some Latinas, the price tag that comes with the festivities can be an obstacle.  “I wanted one, but my family could not afford one,” says Diana Gamez of Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

“I wanted one because it is an important step in the coming of age,” Diana shares.

For others, having a quinceañera means finding alternate ways to celebrate el día que cumple quince años. Kristin Gamez of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, 15, found herself unprepared for the setbacks of not having a quinceañera. “Around the time we were saving for a quinceañera … a couple of years back, my mom lost her job,” she says. Keeping a positive attitude throughout this situation, she adds, “I went out to eat with close relatives. Quinces are all fun to have and share the memory, but as long as you are with your family, then it really shouldn’t matter what you do.”

Many like her are choosing to embrace the simple pursuit of spending time with family instead of a having an elaborate coming of age celebration.“A quinceañera didn’t define me at all. [Instead] my parents gave me 1000 and I got to visit some family in California…and I still got presents. The only difference was that I got to choose to have one,” adds Maria Lopez Dubon.

Transitioning into womanhood

The coming of age celebration is not entirely different from the way Maria describes it. “Supposedly it meant that you were a woman,” she says. “At that time, I thought being a woman was being able to drive, to date and have a job. Now I suppose it means being independent.”

“My mother never had the chance to have one…they had no money growing up,” Stephanie Ann Gutierrez of Houston, TX says. “They had the money for me to have one, so they wanted me to experience one, but I never saw the big deal about the transition into womanhood. Honestly, I think being an adult, a women means you are out of your teenage years being able to make your own decisions.”

“I didn’t want to have one, my parents did. It was a tradition. When you are 15, you don’t know who you are. When I look back on it, I think I didn’t spend or take any of my family’s money. They chose to give me money to do something that I wanted to do,” Stephanie adds.

Is a quince necessary?

A quinceañera could be the mark of a major milestone in a young Latina’s life, but it should not define who you are. Diana Gamez, 15, could not agree more. “If I could tell my 15 year old self about that day it would be, that as long as you’re with people you care about the most, then having a quince shouldn’t really matter,” she says.

Dubon and Gutierrez both say that having a quince was not “necessary” for them.

Having a quinceañera is not all you can do. Go out and volunteer! Or spend time with family and friends! Share your quince story with Latinitas.  More importantly, what do you think defines a woman?

Danza Folklorica, also known as Ballet Folklorico, is a beautiful Mexican dance that reflects heritage and tradition. There are many types of dances from different states throughout Mexico that highlight the culture of that region through unique costumes and music. The folklore, costumes, colors, steps and many other elements represent  Mexican culture.

Fabiola Méndez Chaparro, dances Ballet Folklorico, and has done many presentations throughout the world where she has represented her country. She started Ballet Folklorico as an after school activity and it soon became her passion. She believes dancing is a beautiful way to represent Mexico.

Fabiola started to practice Ballet Folklorico when she joined her school’s dance group in middle school in Juarez, Mexico directed by Gilberto Rodriguez. Fabiola went to many local and state contests with her group. Later on, her teacher decided to start an independent community-wide dance group. In 2001, with the encouragement and dedication of the teachers from Ballet Folklorico Del Norte led by Gilberto Rodriguez and Edna Delgado, began its journey. This group was where Fabiola’s love for Ballet Folklorico really flourished. “Initially it started as a simple hobby after school with my mother’s encouragement, but over time I learned to love my dance teachers in an incredible way, be proud of my country and its culture so vast and rich. Now every step, every type of dance, the story of the people and how to be in every place that is reflected in each dance is wonderful,” Fabiola mentions as she describes her love of Ballet Folklorico.

Fabiola been able to gain new experiences and develop her skills because of  her dance team. “There have been many things that Danza Folklorica has given me… I started at a very young age in a difficult stage as a teenager. It helped me a lot to stay busy and focused on something positive, because you need to have a lot of discipline perseverance and dedication.” Fabiola also mentions that she has learned many things from her teachers. Her dance group became her second family and she is very grateful to have been part of Danza Folklorica Del Norte.

Fabiola had the opportunity to represent Mexico by traveling to international festivals around Europe such as, Italy, France, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, and Turkey. “These trips helped me mature a lot because the tour lasted about five weeks. It involved being away from my family and having the energy  to leave a positive impression of our country, and no doubt that is what we did,” Fabiola said.

She has no specific favorite dance. It is hard to decide because each dance has variations in costume, technique, and music. However she expressed that she loved the colors of the costumes from Jalisco, being the most represented in the world by charro suits for men and colorful dresses for women. She thinks the music from the Yucatan, Tamaulipas, and Veracruz state dances are beautiful, and of course that of Chihuahua.

Fabiola believes danza folklorica is an important part of the Mexican culture because it is one of the main expressions of art and it reflects all parts of Mexico. “For centuries danza folklorica has been used as an art form as a means of cultural expression to show our, patriotism, political beliefs and religion… Mexican folklore transcends borders and through this its versatility is shown as well as the richness of Mexican communities, their joy, colors, music and more. While dancing we also express customs, traditions, values, and you learn the history of different towns (pueblos).”

She mentioned that to practice Ballet Folklorico it is important to have patience and practice. It takes time to become a good dancer but with dedication, passion can be born. Fabiola says, “First of all, there has to be an affinity and a love for dance. It is not necessary to have dancing skills because with time, dedication and effort you would learn to dance. The best dancer is not born, but made. Passion is a large part of dance performance. This passion is the ingredient that helps you express with all your senses, your body and the dancing that you are performing.”

Fabiola encourages young girls to practice Ballet Folklorico because it is a beautiful way to represent their heritage. “If anyone chooses to engage in this beautiful art I can only say that they learn to love the dance  and represent it with dignity and with a passion wherever they go. The passion for what you do is what makes the difference and creates excellence.”

As a last thought, Fabiola thanks her family for the support, because without them it would have been impossible to achieve her goals. “Their unconditional support at all times has been me energy to make them feel proud.” With talented and dedicated dancers like Fabiola, Danza Folklorica remains a beautiful Mexican tradition that we all should admire and be proud of.

As the holidays approach and the frenzy to buy the perfect gift for your loved ones starts to creep up on you, it is important to take the time and reflect on what the season really means. It is also equally important to remember that as Latinas, we have our own special sazon to the holiday season. There are a variety of different traditions celebrated in Latin America this time of year. Below are a few that may perhaps inspire you this holiday season:
• Posadas: La posada is a predominantly Central American tradition in which a procession celebrates Mary and Joseph’s search for lodging during the nine days before the birth of Jesus. The celebration begins December 16 and ends December 24. The procession walks from door to door in their neighborhood, stopping at each door to sing to those inside. Those inside sing back denying the group an entrance. This represents the rejection that Mary and Joseph faced on their search for a place to stay. This goes on until they reach the final house that allows them inside. Once inside, there is a feast served to celebrate the coming of Jesus.

• Noche Buena: Noche Buena is celebrated on December 24th which is Christmas Eve. In some countries, it marks the end of the Posadas. In others, it is celebrated by a late night mass and dinner with family. It is the celebration and preparation of the birth of Jesus.

• Navidad: Christmas Day is a day of celebration throughout Latin America just as it is in many other countries throughout the world. However, each Latin American country has a few variations on how it celebrates this occasion. In Brazil, a play similar to Mexico’s Los Pastores is put on. It consists of a shepherdess and a gypsy who attempts to kidnap the Christ child. Many countries will make a special meal and attend a Misa del Gallo. Misa del Gallo, or Mass of the Rooster, is a mass at 1 am or earlier that features a liturgy specifically celebrating the birth of Christ.

• Año Nuevo: Every December 31st, the world rings in the eve of a new year. Each Latin American country celebrates in different ways. In many countries, each person eats 13 grapes representing 13 wishes for the upcoming year. Houses are swept and cleaned to ring in the new year with a house cleansed of evil spirits and dirt. Many people also take a suitcase and take it around the block to symbolize a wish for traveling the following year.

• Los Reyes Magos: On January 6th, many Latin American countries celebrate the arrival of the Three Kings, or Los Reyes Magos. According to the Biblical story, the three kings heard the story of the arrival of Jesus of Nazareth. They set out to see his birth and bring him presents. To represent this story, many Latin American and European countries, particularly those with a large Catholic population, celebrate this by having the children of the family set out pair of shoes out on January 5th. The next morning the shoes are expected to be filled with presents. However, if the children were not good, the shoes will be filled with coal.

If you keep your traditions alive and remember the reasons for their existence your holiday season will be filled with joy and happiness!

La Virgen de Guadalupe is one of the most praised saints in the Hispanic culture. She has risen to become the symbol of Mexico, and her basilica in Mexico is visited by millions every year. The Virgin’s iconic image can be seen in thousands of churches, homes and even city murals. Her legend is a miraculous and mysterious one, which has helped to build a strong hope in the hearts of those who worship her.

The Legend

The story of the very first apparition of the Virgin is an ancient one. According to the old legend, she appeared to a peasant named Juan Diego in Tepeyac hills near Mexico City. She told Juan Diego to build a church exactly where he was standing. He ran to tell the local bishop, who asked for some proof. Juan Diego went back to the hill and the Virgin appeared to him again. He told her that the bishop wanted proof, and she told him to cut the roses growing behind him. When he turned around, he was amazed to see roses growing. He cut the roses, placed them in his poncho and returned to the bishop. When he arrived to the bishop and opened his cloak before the him, the flowers fell to the floor, and in their place was the Virgin of Guadalupe, miraculously imprinted on the fabric. Today, the sacred icon is displayed in the Basilica of Guadalupe.

The Basilica

The Basilica of Our Lady Of Guadalupe in Mexico City began as a series of shrines. The old building was constructed from 1531 to 1750. The church was then granted basilica status by Pope Pius X in 1904. The infamous Juan Diego cloak was on display in the basilica from 1709 to 1974. In 1921, a bomb placed in a flower vase near the altar exploded and caused major damage to the interior of the building. Due to this, and the fact that the basilica was sinking into the weak ground, a new building was built. The modern basilica was built by Mexican architect Pedro Ramirez Vazquez. The new basilica which holds 10,000 people, was constructed in a circular shape to promote visibility of the image of the Virgin inside. The church hosts so many pilgrimages it is considered the second most important sanctuary of Catholicism.

Mexico’s Symbol

The Virgin has played a strong role in Mexico’s national history as well. The Virgin is known as the patron saint of Mexico. According tocatholic.org, after the Virgin appeared to Juan Diego “six million Native Mexicans had themselves baptized as Christians.” In 1810 Miguel Hidalgo called for Mexican independence with his Grito de Dolores, with the cry “Death to the Spaniards and long live the Virgin of Guadalupe!” During the Mexican Revolution Emiliano Zapata and his men carried banners with the image of Guadalupe as they fought for “tierra y liberated.” Over the years, the Virgin has become not only Mexico’s national symbol, but a symbol of motherly hope and love to the common people. December 12th marks the official feast day for Our Lady of Guadalupe. Millions of people from all over Mexico make pilgrimages to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, on bike, foot and even by knee! Mexicans use the holiday to show their loyalty to the Virgin as well as continue to ask for her blessings. The worship of a Virgin mother is not unique to Mexico though, many other Hispanic cultures also place their faith in a virgin such as Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal.

The Virgin in Popular Culture

To this day, many Mexicans worship the Virgin and believe that the she has appeared to them in some shape or form. La Virgen de Guadalupe has become so overwhelmingly loved by the common people, mostly because she is famous for appearing to the humble and poor Juan Diego. It is very common in Mexican culture to see shrines to the Virgin outside homes, paintings and statues of her indoors, and murals with her figure around town. The praying of the rosary to the Virgin has become a common practice in Mexican culture to both praise the Virgin and petition to her. Wendy Guadalupe Valera, age 16 shares her relationship with the Virgin, “My mom gave my grandpa the opportunity to chose my name. So he made a promise to the Virgin that if I came out healthy, he would name me after her.” The Virgin’s impact on pop culture can still be seen today as she has become the subject of many art forms such as poetry, music, paintings and even jewelry and clothing.

Red, yellow, pink, white, black, purple and orange cut into intricate shapes decorate many Mexican homes and altars during what is known as the Day of the Dead or Día de los Muertos in Spanish. This unique colorful day celebrates family members who have passed away embracing la muerte (death). What are all these colorful decorations for and what do they mean? Going all the way back to 500 years ago, the Aztecs would honor Mictecacihuatl (lady of the dead) with rituals using fire, incense, costumes of animal skins, images of their dead and offerings of ceramics, personal goods, flowers and foods, drink and flowers. This was a special time dedicated to honoring our lancestors. With a long tradition, this is a holiday that is still celebrated today as a way to remember our loved ones who have passed away by creating alters to honor the deceased.

The Aztecs weren’t the only ones honoring the dead. In Europe, the Celts honored November 1st as the Feast of Samhain, a special holy time marking a new year for them with the end of harvest season and change from summer to winter. During this time, they honored their ancestors since they believed the veil between the world of the living and the world of the dead was thin on this night. It was believed that on the night of October 31st the dead would have a connection with earth. This day was celebrated with dancing around bonfires and providing offerings to the dead. They would remember their ancestors with feasts and set a place at the table for their dead loved ones. When the Catholic Church grew, they changed this pagan celebration into a holiday honoring religious saints and came up with All Saints Day on November 1st. The Catholic Church also created All Soul’s Day on November 2nd which is special mass where prayers are made to cleanse the souls of loved ones with the hope to send them to heaven. October 31 was “All Hallowed’s Eve” or Hallow’e'en. When the Spanish conquistadors came to Mexico, they tried to keep these traditions. The Aztecs embraced some of the Spanish traditions, but added their colorful and joyful twist to it. Today el Dia de los Muertos is celebrated with vibrant papel picado (tissue paper), catrinas (skeletons), candles, pan de muerto ( bread of the dead), food and water and an altar.

Colorful tissue paper decorates altars with each color of the tissue paper represents something different. Red symbolizes the blood of Jesus for the Catholic Church, and for the indigenous it represents human and animal blood. Yellow and orange represent the marigold flower, the sun and light. The color white means purity and hope, and the color pink is a sign of celebration. The color purple signifies pain, suffering, grief and mourning. Black is for the Pre-hispanic religions and land of the dead

To make an altar, you need candles, some of your loved one’s favorite food, papel picado, flowers, a picture of who the altar will be for, some pan de muerto, and a skull head or a catrina. The altar should have three or more levels, representing the three stages of death. In a more traditional altar there can be up to 7 levels. Each level has a specific focus. The first level should have the saint of devotion,
the second level represents the souls of purgatory, the third level holds salt for the children in purgatory, the fourth level has pan de muerto, the fifth level should have food that the deceased liked, the sixth should have pictures of the deceased (for who the altar is for), and the seventh level could have a cross on a rosary. Centuries after the first Aztecs celebrates this tradition, Latino communities are keeping these customs alive as a way to celebrate the lives of those loved ones we have lost.

A milagro can directly be translated to “miracle” in English. For many Latinos, those shiny charms are meant for more than just decorations. These religious folk charms have traditionally been used throughout Latina America for healing purpose or as religious offerings. Early accounts of milagros tell the story of Hernan Cortez of Spain who offered to the Lady of Guadalupe a gold pin shaped in the form of a scorpion representing his survival of a scorpion bite. This gold charm actually contained the body of the scorpion inside of the charm and was given to the Lady in thanks of her protection.

Since then, a milagro has become part of the popular Hispanic devotion known as la promesa or “the vow.” La promesa is a custom in Mexico, several Latin American countries, as well as within the Hispanic population living in the United States, where a promise is made to a religious figure like the Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ or a saint in exchange for a miracle. This promise depends on the person and can be anything from going on a pilgrimage (a religious journey) to giving a donation to the church or making a personal sacrifice.

Milagros are often represented in the form of a small silver pin or charm in the shape of a saint, body part, animal or object of significance. All of these represent different kinds of miracles and forms of luck or good fortune. For example, a very popular charm is the heart. The heart can actually represent the human heart or actually symbolize a heart condition that one faces. It could represent the love that one has for another or illustrate the sacred heart of Jesus or Mary. These charms are often seen on the clothing of a person as well as on or near the statues of saints in churches.

A milagro is one example of the many ways that people show their devotion and faith and is a great part of the Latino culture. It shows dedication and persistence in exchange for a miracle.

As strong Latinas, we should take it upon ourselves to strengthen our culture in ourselves so we can easily spread it to our surroundings. Sometimes it may feel like measures to stifle our culture are being taken more often than not. Although it is sad and unfortunate, we can help promote our culture by embracing our roots. We love our culture and want others to love it just as much as we do. Rediscovering our culture may sound hard, but it is easier than it seems. The best part is that as we are learning more about our culture, we can have fun and educate others as well. Who said you can’t learn and have fun at the same time?

Practice Your Language

How many of you know Spanish but rarely speak it? Have you been saying for years that you wish you could speak Spanish? Today is the day to put this beautiful language into practice! If you know Spanish, have conversations in that language rather than English. Encourage your parents and siblings to speak to you in Spanish. If you never learned the language, talk to your abuleos or classmates. There’s no better way to learn a new language than to surround yourself by people who speak it fluently. Learning the language that your ancestors have spoken helps connect you to your heritage and gets others excited to speak Spanish as well.

Listen to Latino Music

Music is universal; everyone loves it. Although not everyone can agree in their taste of music, there’s a genre for everyone. Sometimes Spanish music is generalized as being limited to just one style of music like mariachis, but the opposite is true. There is a great variety of different Spanish styles of music. Instead of listening to your current favorite albums, try genres such as pop en Español, rock en Español, cumbias, salsa, tropical, rancheras, Duranguense, rancheras, reggaeton, Spanish hip hop —there’s something for all tastes. More likely than not, you will find a genre of Latino-inspired music that matches what you usually listen to. Listen to artists that have appealed to both English- and Spanish-speaking audiences for years, such as Shakira or Enrique Iglesias. The musical rhythms combined with lyrics in Spanish provide you with a refreshing and fun Latino environment. You’ll be soaking in your culture while jamming out at the same time.

Be a Fashionista

Latin America is known for using bright colors in their apparel. Bright reds, greens, yellows, pinks and oranges are embroidered into clothing and woven into hair. Embrace the variety and incorporate color and embroidery into your wardrobe. Adding bright colors to your clothing can really help you display the culture you are so proud of. If you don’t think you’re bold enough to wear such vivid colors, try adding flowers to your hair. Frida Kahlo, a wonderful Latina painter, was known to wear flowers in her hair and always looked beautiful doing so.

Read Latin Literature

There are plenty of books that hold worlds that Latinos can relate to and understand. Countless literary treasures have come from Latin American authors. Chicano literature speaks of the hardships and struggles that Mexican-Americans have had to endure and overcome. The powerful words upon the pages of those books are an inspiration to many. Books such as The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros and Sammy and Juliana in Hollywood by Benjamin Alire Sáenz tell stories of every-day life, but make an impact nonetheless. Reading these books help you learn about your historical background, thus helping enrich your cultural present.

Family Ties

Of course, the easiest way to feed your cultural needs is by spending time with your family. Mamá, papá, tías, tíos, abuelitos, primos – they all shape you into the person you are today. Spending time with them helps you in practicing your Spanish-speaking skills. Turn on Celia Cruz’s “La Vida Es Un Carnaval” and dance along with your tías and primos. Sit around abuelita and listen to her tell stories of when she was young, stories better than any author can write. As you listen to her paint a colorful picture, think of ways you can copy her style. There’s no better example of what your culture looks like than your parents and grandparents.