Fiesta de quince años

During my trip to Ecuador, in Cuenca I had the chance to attend the 15th birthday party of my host María Bernarda’s friend’s daughter, Jennifer. The fiesta de quince años is a big feast in Latin America; it equals a wedding in importance. According to age-old tradition, a young girl is introduced to society at her fiesta de quinceañera. From then on, she is allowed to wear make-up, use high heels and have a boyfriend.

Jennifer’s family was obviously rather well-off and they had could afford to splurge on the party. The guest list included a modest 150 friends and family members. The party was celebrated at rented facilities, el Club. Jennifer and her parents could just lay back and enjoy as catering and all other practical matters were taken care of by a hoard of hired kitchen staff. The decoration was meticulously arranged, the dominant colours being pink and purple. The catering was made up of 15 cream cakes, a fountain of chocolate and lots of small snacks like cookies and grapes. There was rosé wine and watered-down whiskey.

The party began at 10 p.m. when Jennifer, the quinceañera, entered the room accompanied by 15 friends and younger cousins. She was wearing a long, elegant, laced dress that could well have been a wedding dress but for the touches of violet and pink. First in line was the exchange of gifts. Both Jennifer’s parents and godparents gave her several presents that had obvious symbolic value. Each gift was accompanied by some words revealing the meaning behind the choice of object. The gifts included a flower (because you are blossoming, dear Jennifer), a high-heeled shoe (because tonight you can wear your very first high heels), and a Bible (so that you never forget the word of the Lord). Jennifer got highly emotional and could not keep back the tears as she thanked her parents for all their help and support through the years.

Once the formalities were over, the dancing began. The loud-speakers boomed cumbia, salsa, meringue and reggaeton. Sometime after midnight, a band made up of Jennifer’s friends played a set of rock songs that was far longer than necessary, considering that the musical merits of the band were next to non-existent. The lead singer remembered to repeat “Gracias, broderes” between every song and before each chorus, so we started calling the group Los Broderes (The Brothers in bad English).

The fiesta de quince años is a rite-of-passage ceremony whose Finnish equivalent could be the High School Olds’ Dances. An old-style ritual, and a very expensive one at that, but I guess rituals are needed in the transition from child to young woman. The equivalent for boys would be the 16th birthday party, but it is hardly celebrated any more, at least not as extravagantly as the fiesta de quince años for girls.