On Tuesday, September 17, 2024, GHS students, Sarah Bello ‘25, Daniela Bello ‘26, Vanesa Vazquez ‘27, and Yulianna Linares ‘27 made history by making an appearance with their quinceañera dresses on homecoming dress-to-impress day.
The dress-to-impress day was the second dress-up day for homecoming week. Students walked through the doors in dresses, ties, and suits. Four of these students walked through the doors with big, poofy dresses, barely fitting through the front doors. They are quinceañera dresses!
A quinceañera is a big celebration for a girl’s 15th birthday, going from girlhood to womanhood. It is very common in Mexican and other Latin American cultures. Quinceañeras are usually religious and social events. Most girls that turn 15 and have quinceañera, will most likely have it before or after their actual birthday. Quinceañeras are common on weekends so they could party all night and recover the next day. “I wore my dress because GHS hasn’t done anything that would celebrate my culture and give me a reason to wear my dress,” said D. Bello. “The dresses are expensive and to wear it once was not enough.” Her quinceañera was July 9, 2023, on her actual birthday.
The meaning of a Quinceañera is more than just the party, it is a whole routine to complete the big day. The ceremony first starts with a mass; attended by the girl, her parents, godparents, and family/friends. After the mass, it is followed by a party. Not only does food or music play a big part in it, but so does the court. A quinceañera court consists of damas and chambelanes which accompany her in the dancing. “My quinceañera was on June 11, 2022 just after my 15th birthday,” said S. Bello. “I needed a reason to wear it again and this seemed perfect.”
There are many traditional dances that are part of this special celebration. One of the main dances is the waltz, which is with the quinceañera court. Each couple and the quinceañera with her main chambelan, dance together in front of everyone as a presentation for the quinceañera. The father-daughter dance is also a very memorable moment for a quinceañera, as she celebrates a new milestone in her life. It also symbolizes the fact that the father was the first man in her life. The last-doll dance is also part of the celebration, symbolizing how her interests will move on from playing with dolls to using adult items, like makeup. Linares celebrated her quinceañera on May 11, 2024 and was excited to relive the dances by putting her dress on again. “The feeling you get when you first put on your dress is unforgettable,” she said. “To get to put it on and feel that again, it’s just a nice feeling.”
At the party quinceañera shows her transition from childhood to adulthood by participating in a coronation, when she changes from a small crown to a bigger crown, and the change of heels, from flats to high heels, during the reception.
After the main celebrations and dances, it is followed by a “surprise dance”. It’s usually a remix of many songs that the quinceañera and her court dance to. Practices for the waltz and the “baile sorpresa” take place months before the special day. A lot of money, hard work, and planning is needed to make a Quinceanera.
It may have just been a dress up day, but for these students it was an opportunity to show their traditional dresses to their classmates and teach them a little about a celebration that is part of their heritage. It was good timing for Dress to Impress, “It was Mexican Independence Day on September 16 and dressing up was a good way to start Hispanic Heritage Month,” said Vazquez. “I’m glad we wore our dresses to show our Hispanic traditions to the school.”
