Quincenara

So, a week ago and yes, I am slow, one of Nikole's friends named China had her Quincenara (keen-sen-yara). It is like the Mexican/Catholic celebration of a girls 15th birthday. It is the way they celebrate the transformation from young girl to womanhood. It was a good experience for us to all have. It gave us another look into a different culture and its traditions. The first part of the ceremony takes place in a church and the girl has a court that preceedes her. Typically it is 7 girls and 7 boys (plus her equals 15). She is escorted in and presented to the congregation. There are presentations of gifts--a kneeling pillow to remind her to pray always for guidance--a tiara to remind her that she is a princess in the sight of her Lord--a necklace, bracelet, and earrings to symbolize womanhood--and a last doll to symbolize the last gift of childhood. There were some other things, but I can't remember what all they were for. The birthday girl also wears in flats, and someone (usually the father) will change her flats for heels---leaving behind the childhood and going into adulthood.
After the religous part of the Quince' there is a migration to a different building where the "celebration" part of it takes place. Here there is a meal served and a cake cut. There is also a dance if the family so chooses.
The whole thing very closely resembled a wedding/type event without the groom. Like I said, it was a fun experience for us to have. Anyway, here are some pictures of it.