(NEXSTAR) — A quinceañera is more than just a party. It symbolizes a girl’s transition from girlhood to womanhood.
For many Hispanic families, it’s a time to gather those closest to you and show respect for culture, faith and growth. The “quince,” as it’s called in shorthand, dates back to 16th century Latin America, when ancient tribes performed an initiation ceremony to celebrate a young girl becoming a part of society (and a prospective wife).
Nowadays, a quinceañera celebration is easily adapted to fit any girl’s lifestyle and personality.
The celebration typically includes a religious ceremony, followed by a reception and dance. Some symbolic gestures that happen during the celebration include a father-daughter dance and the presentation of “the last doll.”
But planning a quinceañera is not the same as planning just any birthday party. A lot goes into making these celebrations happen.
“You need at least 8-10 vendors just to put it together,” says quinceañera coordinator Vanessa Martinez. “The price point for a quinceañera that I’ve seen is in the thousands. That’s why you want to plan two years in advance.”
Martinez explains that the early planning leaves room for family members to potentially pitch in time or money, as many Hispanic families view the celebration as an event for the family, not just the quinceañera girl.
Texas mom Cynthia Garza told Nexstar’s KVEO she’s already started planning for her daughter’s day, which is to be held in two years.
“I decided to start preparing ahead of time because times have changed, things are expensive,” says Garza. “I don’t want to feel the stress of having to plan a party in such a short amount of time.”
Garza says she toured the venue she’s eyeing for the event and was surprised to find out families have already booked the venue as far out as 2027. Nevertheless, she and her daughter are excited for the coming festivities.
Even though putting together a quinceañera can be stressful, the tradition nevertheless remains a beloved moment for countless Hispanic families. Turning fifteen is a milestone in the life of a Hispanic girl and, if you plan well, you can look forward to just enjoying the day when it comes.
The post When should you start planning a quinceañera? appeared first on WHNT.
