Marissa Rock



Mishelle Vanegas and Gaby Velasco are two freshman students here at Phoenixville High School. They are both from Guatemala and have recently celebrated their culture’s traditional “quinceañera” when the girls turned fifteen. Quinceañeras are celebrated in most Spanish-speaking countries and they symbolize a girl becoming a woman.

Mishelle and Gaby said they have more freedom after their quinceañera, and it is not comparable to our culture’s “Sweet Sixteen.” For their fifteenth birthday, girls can choose between a car, money, and a quinceañera celebration. Obviously, Mishelle and Gaby chose a quinceañera, which was a good choice, because common gifts at quinceañeras include money, perfume, purses and clothes. Usually anywhere from 200-500 people attend. The first part of the celebration takes place in church, and then the rest of the activities/dancing take place in a large space rented out by the family. Mishelle and Gaby also had limos drive them around to make them feel even more like princesses! However, Mishelle feels that the limos should be pink. Mishelle said her parents and uncles planned the celebration for her, while Gaby said it was mostly planned by her parents, but the whole family contributes in some way because the average cost of a quinceañera is $5-6,000!

A special event that takes place is the birthday girl’s dad changing her shoes. Since a new privilege of a 15-year-old woman is being allowed to wear high heels, their dads change their flat shoes to high heels during the quinceañera. Everyone that attends watches this, and enjoys the other activities such as dancing, eating, singing, as well as artists and mimes.

Mishelle said her party started around 5:00 and ended at 11:30; Gaby said hers went from 6:00-1:00 in the morning! Quinceañeras seem fairly short, for the amount of planning they take. Mishelle and Gaby said it is similar to prom with how they got ready and bought a dress, etc. However, it is more comparable to a wedding, because the birthday girl gets to choose fourteen other girls, (kind of like bridesmaids) who wear the same dresses, shoes and hairstyles. The birthday girl also has an escort that her parents have to know. However, the boy and girl do not have to be the same age, or a family member. The escort also gets to choose fourteen boys (kind of like groomsmen). Boys do not have an equivalent to a quinceañera; it is just for girls. However, boys do have the privilege of moving out when they are eighteen after a service in church.

This celebration is very exciting because these 15-year-old women receive many more privileges than before. At fourteen, the girls have to stay at home, go to church, and obviously obey their parents’ rules. At fifteen, they still have to listen to their parents, but they are allowed to go out with their friends, wear high heels and makeup, and have a boyfriend!

Overall, Mishelle and Gaby had fun at their quinceañeras, which were very special to them, their family and friends. The even more exciting part is that now they are officially women!