what is quince party

A quinceañera is a celebration of a girls 15th birthday, marking her passage from girlhood to womanhood. It is a valued tradition that celebrates a young girls new milestone into adulthood. The celebration has cultural roots in Mexico and is widely celebrated by girls throughout Latin America. The quinceañera is both a religious and social event that emphasizes the importance of family and society in the life of a young woman. The celebration is generally as elaborate as the means of the family will allow, and parents may even spend more on their daughters quinceañeras than their weddings. The celebration is usually held in a banquet hall and includes a mass at a Catholic church, followed by a party similar to a prom. The quinceañera honoree wears a floor-length gown, traditionally white or pale pink, and a delicate tiara or crown. The celebration includes symbolic actions such as the presentation of a doll to a younger sister, to show that the celebrant is giving up her childhood, and the placement of heeled shoes on her feet, to indicate that she is ready for womanhood. The dance portion of the quinceañera includes a choreographed waltz-type dance that is prepared and is considered one of the main events of the evening.