Quinceanera

In America, when a girl dreams of her highlight birthday party they may envision their sweet sixteen, but in Mexico girls envision their fifteenth birthday party. A quinceanera is the celebration of a girl's fifteenth birthday party. The quinceanera is regarded in three ways: as an extension of particular Catholic sacraments, as a rite of passage, and as a practice that has historical continuity or "tradition."  This birthday party marks the transition from childhood to young womanhood. It also has traditional views due to it having such deep historical orgins or roots that go back to the Maya. The birthday girl is dressed up in a beautiful gown, and her make up and hair are done to perfection. The color of the dress is usually pink or white because it symbolizes her purity. The quincenera waltz with the chambelanes is the girl's first dance in the public. Many other rituals are performed then the dinner starts with contracted musical groups playing songs for the birthday girl.