Sweet 16s and Quinceañeras
A day in the life of a princess
Flashing lights. A girl gets her picture taken. A beautiful ballgown. She’s the center of attention. Vibrant music. With her family, she sways to the beat of the music. A decadent food table. An all-you-can eat buffet is on display. A candy table, too, is along the wall. She and friends alike have witnessed sugar galore and are nothing but smiles. This is the perfect embodiment of a girl’s Sweet 16 party, and for a girl of Hispanic descent, her Quinceañera.
So, what actually is a Sweet 16 or Quinceañera? The answer is simple: they are both birthday parties that commonly serve as a transition for a young girl into womanhood. They are both pivotal moments in a teenage girl’s life, and besides (eventual) weddings and prom, many girls across the world look forward to this moment from the time they are tiny tots to the day before their grand celebration. Not all are blessed to have a party like this, of course, but those who are often seize the opportunity to be a princess for one night—their birthday. At times, even boys have them!
However, with so many similarities, there are some stark differences between the two. To begin with, a Quinceañera celebrates a girl’s 15th birthday and the root word quince means “15” in Spanish. Latinos view this as being the age of maturity, and these parties are generally more traditional, family-oriented, and often have religious significance. There is usually a father-daughter dance and plenty of large-scale decorations. For more information, check out these following websites: http://ideas.hallmark.com/quinceanera-ideas/what-is-a-quinceanera/ or http://www.quinceanera-boutique.com/quinceaneratradition.htm.
While a Quinceañera symbolizes a Latina girl’s coming of age, a Sweet 16 party for an American girl celebrates her passage into early adulthood. This is her 16th birthday, and can be casual or formal depending on her individual taste. There isn’t a particular set of guidelines, but some traditions are modelled after its Hispanic counterpart. For more information, please check out: http://www.clubvenetian.com/sweet-16-birthday-celebrations/.
Personally, my party was semi-formal and I remember it like it was yesterday. June 27th, 2015, is a day I’ll never forget and will treasure forever. It was everything I had envisioned and was filled with people I love, things I enjoy, and just the right amount of fun. As a year nearly approaches, these are all things that come to mind. The single complaint I’ve received from party guests was: “I wished it had lasted longer!” And in my two outfit changes, I finally got my perfect princess night.
Have you ever wanted to live in a castle? Go to one of these elaborate parties, or have your own—like me—and you will feel like royalty for sure. With so much destruction, hatred, and chaos in today’s world, we are in need of more Sweet 16 parties and Quinceañeras. If you’re ever hosting one of these, planning, planning, planning is key! Make sure to check out: http://www.beau-coup.com/how-to-plan-a-sweet-16-party.htm.
