Mother and Aztec Period Women
I am Mexican, and we have unique customs. One, for young girls, is called quinceanera, or sweet fifteen.
During the Aztec period women were treated as second-class citizens, unimportant except for bearing children. When the Spanish conquered the Aztecs, they brought new customs. One was that young women at age 15 had to choose between a life of marriage and a life dedicated to God. Today, some traditions have changed, and now quinceaneras means a young woman is presented by her parents to the community. There is a special mass and party. The girl now has more responsibilities and is allowed to date. It celebrates the journey into adulthood.
My mother has always talked to me about quinceaneras, but let me decide if I wanted one. I decided when I was 12 that I would. She took me too many quinceaneras to get ideas and talked to a lot of people. My whole family wanted to help when I decided I'd have one.
First we needed to choose the date. My mother told me she wanted me to be presented at the church and receive a blessing before my party. Then we looked at many halls for the reception, and I chose 14 girls and boys to participate as damas and chambelanes. They were to accompany me on my special day and dance a waltz with me as my court of honor. I chose tuxedos for the chambelanes and a formal dress for the damas. Two months before, we met at my house to learn the waltz.
I also chose five padrinos for the church. At the church they were to present me with gifts. One gave me a medal, which signifies my promotion of faith. Another gave me a rosary, which symbolizes sacred scripture for instruction and reflection. My third padrino gave me a ring, to show my commitment to follow in God's path. I also received a crown to represent honor, victory and responsibility, and a bouquet of artificial flowers arranged to reflect new life. Bouquets of real flowers are presented to the Virgin Mary to thank her and pray to her on my day.
The day of my quinceanera I had my hair
During the Aztec period women were treated as second-class citizens, unimportant except for bearing children. When the Spanish conquered the Aztecs, they brought new customs. One was that young women at age 15 had to choose between a life of marriage and a life dedicated to God. Today, some traditions have changed, and now quinceaneras means a young woman is presented by her parents to the community. There is a special mass and party. The girl now has more responsibilities and is allowed to date. It celebrates the journey into adulthood.
My mother has always talked to me about quinceaneras, but let me decide if I wanted one. I decided when I was 12 that I would. She took me too many quinceaneras to get ideas and talked to a lot of people. My whole family wanted to help when I decided I'd have one.
First we needed to choose the date. My mother told me she wanted me to be presented at the church and receive a blessing before my party. Then we looked at many halls for the reception, and I chose 14 girls and boys to participate as damas and chambelanes. They were to accompany me on my special day and dance a waltz with me as my court of honor. I chose tuxedos for the chambelanes and a formal dress for the damas. Two months before, we met at my house to learn the waltz.
I also chose five padrinos for the church. At the church they were to present me with gifts. One gave me a medal, which signifies my promotion of faith. Another gave me a rosary, which symbolizes sacred scripture for instruction and reflection. My third padrino gave me a ring, to show my commitment to follow in God's path. I also received a crown to represent honor, victory and responsibility, and a bouquet of artificial flowers arranged to reflect new life. Bouquets of real flowers are presented to the Virgin Mary to thank her and pray to her on my day.
The day of my quinceanera I had my hair