Magalog Final

Why does a
quinceañera look so
much like a wedding?
The reason it looks like so is because years
ago, when a girl turned fifteen, she would
prepare to leave home to become a wife
and mother. The wedding would bestow
upon her a new set of responsibilities.
Today’s Latina girls now celebrate their
fifteenth birthday with the idea that
they'll wake up the next morning with a
new set of responsibilities.
The Quince dress itself is meant
to symbolize womanhood.
For the birthday girl, it’s intended to
indicate that she’s ready to leave her
former childish ways - and “little girl”
clothing - and become a woman in an
elegant formal gown.
Originally, the dress was always white to
indicate the girl’s virginity because at the
time, a dress of any other color meant
that a girl had lost her virginity.
Now, Quince dresses
come in a rainbow
of colors, including
dramatic black.
In some families and social
groups, and especially because of
the influence of the Church, light pastel
colors are still strongly encouraged.
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