a birthday present for Little Fawn
I kinda glazed over the fact that Little Fawn had a birthday a couple of days ago. And it was a big one… at least in Mexican culture it’s a big one: 15.
My baby girl turned 15 on Tuesday. God, I can remember so vividly the day she was born. I’ll have to write about that one later. I had talked with a few friends and even my mom about throwing a big party for her… a quinceanera. But it just wasn’t in the cards.
It’s a pretty big deal when a Mexican girl turns 15. Not having really been raised as a Mexican I couldn’t tell you what that is but apparently it involves dressing the birthday girl in the gaudiest, trashiest dress one can find. Google quinceanera and you’ll see more examples.
| There is a church service where she is made to feel like a sacrificial lamb.
I’ve attended a couple of these and been the photographer for a few quinceaneras. I’ve gotta say, even being Mexican, the whole ritual seems a little odd. They dress up this little girl, as if for a wedding and then offer her up to their god. Seems a little old testament to me. Either that or Aztec. All they’re missing is a sharp knife and her still beating heart. |
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Oh and at this party, I guess all her guy friends show looking like pimps. Because of course that’s what every virtuous, virgin-ish 15 year old girl has is a court of pimps at her every whim.
For Little Fawn I chose something a little more subdued. I took her to dinner at a little fast food place that serves spaghetti and other pasta dishes and I gave her a tiarra.
She played along and actually tried on the tiarra that came with the mug but I cut her head off trying to take the picture. She wouldn’t let me take any more of her with it on her head for fear of me sending it to our church discussion board. Damn teenagers… much smarter now than when I was a kid.
I love you Little Fawn. Happy birthday.
Happy b.day to your girl!
My gift to her is a trip to the art museum and a cat. Wait Jules, don’t kill me yet! I promise the cat isn’t actually going to live here!! It’s really a card with a kitten in a flower pot on it. Sorry Little Fawn, it’s the best I could do. Happy birthday!
Oh, this is so funny. Dress like pimps. It’s SO true, having been to a quincenera recently. And so much money that goes into it. But you know what, I love that some cultures make a big deal about transitions, and this is one of life’s biggest for a girl…er…woman.
p.s., the pimp pic is precious.
Hey YB! Glad you made it back from Vietnam ok. So yeah, isn’t it amazing how much goes into this. A co-worker of mine spent thousands of dollars doing one for her daughter and that didn’t include the family members who pitched in to the shin-dig.
It’s great that cultures have significant milestones or rights-of-passage that make everyone a part of the culture. You know… by going through a bar mitzvah, or vision quest or in this case quinceanera. But I think like some things in our country (i’m thinking specifically of weddings) it’s gotten a little out of hand and commercialized. I think some of it is a little over the top.
Glad you’re back from sabbatical. : )
Loved your sentiment regarding your daughter! These transitional ceremonies are interesting. I had attended a family member’s Bat Mitzvah three years ago, and now there is apparently something called a “Confirmation” at age 16. I thought Confirmation was a Christian thingy, you know? The Bar/Bat Mitzvah is still the main thing though.
lolol
this post was hilarious, your explanation might not have added much enlightenment to those wondering about Mexican culture, but it sure was entertaining.
Happy Birthday, Little Fawn
i have my quince december 5th,hope it doesnt rain
Why are people so….ignorant!!!! Read about what a quincenera is all abou before putting it down. It’s like any other sweet 16 party, i think that’s what americans call it. A quinceanera is almost exactly like a wedding BUT without the groom.. She’s coming out of being a lil girl and introduced to womanhood. And if the parents have the money then they are going to do there best to have the best quinceanera ever.. So read up on it…
im sorry, i am about to turn 15, and i dont know how more rude some one could be. i think that you should be quiet and RESPECT other people’s cultures. IF YOU DONT LIKE IT DONT SAY ANYTHING AND KEEP IT TO YOURSELF!!!
its not just mexicans who have a quinceanera its the whole hispanic comunity