A quinceañera is a celebration, from Mexico, of a girl’s fifteenth birthday and symbolizes the transition from girlhood to womanhood. This tradition dates back to the 5th century and was originally used by the Aztecs to signify that a young lady was ready for marriage. The traditional dress was plain white to symbolize innocence and youth, but this tradition is not followed anymore. Not all Hispanic cultures have the same traditions; in Ecuador, they celebrate Fiesta Rosa, which has similar roots, but instead of a white dress, pink dresses are worn. The chamberlains play a role in meeting new people and providing emotional support. Other traditions include the last doll and the father-daughter dance, which all represent the transition from youth to womanhood.

Aubree Morfin, a sophomore, found that continuing this tradition had a big impact on her identity. It allowed her to reflect on her growth into a new stage of life and also helped her connect to her Mexican heritage. Despite being half-white, Morfin is very in touch with her Mexican side. She enjoys Mexican music and food and recently celebrated her quinceañera.

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Aubree Morfin (10) shows off her Quinceañera dress.

“My mixed heritage doesn’t influence my identity, but I think my Mexican heritage influences my identity more because that is what I grew up in,” said Morfin. 

Even just days later, she sees how the celebration impacts her transition from childhood to womanhood. Like other coming-of-age traditions, a quinceañera teaches her to plan and value her culture. Even though quinceañeras are no longer used for marriage, they are still a monumental part of a girl’s life. 

“Just from this, I realized I am growing up and soon I’ll be an adult. I have to learn to be more responsible since I got a lot of money and I have to learn how to manage it. I also learned it’s important to plan ahead of time and put more aside for important things” said Morfin.

A big challenge the quinceañera and her family have to face is finances. When you pay thousands for the dress, boots, food, music, photography, surprise dance outfits, and more, it gets pricey, which is also a big reason that quinceañeras get padrinos. Since the celebration is a lot of money, the expectations are very high for family and friends. Although there might be some mix-ups, mess-ups, or accidents, it is still one of the girls’ best days. 

“It was the best night ever and I enjoyed spending time with my family and friends,” said Morfin