Why The Zacatecas Quinceañera Is The Ultimate Party

Designed by Wendy Zhu

Growing up, my weekends were always filled with Quinceañeras. Whether it was a family member or my dad’s friend of a friend, they were always the one event I never got tired of.

I mean, c’mon, free food? An opportunity to dress up? Dancing con las tias? Chismeando with your cousins about what happened at the last family function? The opportunities are endless, and so is the traditional Mexican event that symbolizes the transition from girlhood to womanhood. 

Naturally, a lot of preparation goes into this type of event, and it’s definitely not cheap either. 

According to a study by the Quinceañera Report, more than half a million quinceañeras are held in the U.S. annually, with an average cost of $21,781. 

The dress, the chambelanes and/or damas attire, venue, food, music, invitations and alcohol are just some notable expenses to be made. A Quinceañera is not just another birthday party, it's a socially and culturally important part of the Latino/a community.

When it was time for my older sister, Johanna, to have her Quinceañera, the process started an entire year before the actual date arrived. Her dress was made-to-order in Mexico, her face was plastered across hundreds of invitations and my family planned out every detail 1,412 miles away in Denver.

Once December 2017 was here, we arrived in Valparaiso, Zacatecas, and it was time to turn this party into a reality. 

As family from pueblos San Mateo and Trojes cooked mole, rice and beef during the morning, the chambelanes practiced el vals and the baile sorpresa at the communal basketball court in the afternoon. At night, myself and my extended family spent five hours straightening up the event center. 

All these elements were crucial to making Johanna’s quinceañera the talk of the town, especially with a 24-hour deadline. After this long, yet exhausting day, I was more than ready to get in bed and ease my brain from all of the logistics.

The next morning, my 13-year-old self woke up at 6 am. The special day was finally here. Johanna, my mom, cousins, aunts and grandmas were getting their makeup and hair done while my twin brother, dad, cousin, uncles, and myself put on our charro suits. As I put on my chunky belt and my white cowboy boots, I felt excited to see what the day had in store for my sister and family.

Once everyone was ready to head to the church, Johanna walked down the steps of our San Mateo home to mariachi music while photographers and videographers captured her last moments as a child. Immediately picture after picture was taken of my sister with family members and eventually to me and twin brother, Juan. The both of us were bored of the pictures and wanted to get as far away from the cameras as possible.

At the church, we were welcomed by a packed crowd filled with family and friends dressed in charro-attire and rancho style. The misa, or mass, is the traditional way to celebrate the next chapter of life: adulthood. 

Once the mass finished, the witnesses of the transformation cheered on the quinceañera and began a cabalgata, a parade, starting from the church all the way to the event center, where we held the comida section of the festivity. Hundreds of people gathered to eat, talk and listen to music, usually tamborazo or mariachi. As the homemade food and Mexican Coke hit my tastebuds, the struggle that I experienced the day prior made it all worth it.

Later, the most anticipated part of the party, the baile, begins. Usually, a grupo, or band, joins and brings the energy into the night. As tens of hundreds of people dance the night away, a sudden halt occurs.

The mother and father dance, vals, and baile sorpresa are finally here. The series of dances can be emotional for friends, family and especially the quinceañera, as it signifies the transition of leaving childhood behind and moving forward into adulthood.

Of course, alcohol, live music, and cake add to the magic of the baile and quinceañara. But it’s also important to note that this event creates a key moment in the star of the show’s life, one filled with loved ones, conocidos, and support of the community.

Beautiful memories are made on such a special day; photos and videos allow families to relive the day that changed their lives and move forward with a reminder of those moments that seemed so long ago.

Now, as a college student who is 903 miles away from home and my family, I cherish the precious memories, both positive and negative, as I continue to grow as a person. When a rough time arises, I look back at the photos of this special day and feel a sense of home and comfort.

Thankfully, Quinceañaras are not going anywhere anytime soon. Moving forward, every time my family gets invited to one, you bet that I will be there for the wonderful connections, food, dance and memories that will be made.