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Invited to your first quinceañera? We have tips!

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If you’ve never been to a quinceañera, you’re in for a treat. This information will help you feel confident as a guest at your first quinceanera.

Typically, the quinceañera begins with a religious ceremony, usually a mass at a Catholic Church. The quinceañera will enter first, followed by her court if she has one. After the church service, a party commemorates the celebration. The party can range from a simple backyard barbecue to an elaborate banquet with guests wearing formal wear.

There will most likely be dancing and lots of food. Quinceañeras tend to be very family-oriented. People of all age groups will celebrate the birthday girl’s passage into adulthood. You’d be safe to assume the quinceañera and her closest friends will perform speeches and surprise dances.

Having a great time at your first quinceañera starts with feeling confident in your clothing choice and gift. Here are some pro tips to help you enjoy the big event.

The Invitation

First things first, when you receive that invitation, reply! If there is an RSVP date, honor it and make sure you respond on time. If the date is iffy for you, it’s better to decline and miss the event than to reply yes and back out (but send a gift even if you decline!). Keep in mind that the planning is based on the number of guests, and no show’s are costly. In that vein, if a “plus one” isn’t explicitly included in the invite, don’t assume it’s ok to add one or bring one to the event.

What To Wear

Location is a significant factor when deciding what to wear. If the quinceañera is taking place outside at a park or at home, it is usually acceptable to dress casually. But skip the jeans, shorts, and sneakers. Dress pants and shirt or a simple dress will work no matter how casual the setting and is respectful to the quinceañera and her family.

For an event held at a banquet hall or restaurant, women should choose a dress nice enough to wear to an afternoon wedding. Be sure not to match the star of the day by finding out the color the quinceañera will be wearing (and her attendants) and avoid wearing that color.

Whatever you choose, dress modestly, especially for the church ceremony. Skip the skimpy top or dress and make sure your clothing is modest. A jacket or shawl over a cocktail dress that is a little bare is fine.

For men, dress slacks and a button-down shirt are appropriate in almost all settings. For more formal events, a jacket would be suitable.

If in doubt, ask! It’s perfectly fine to check in with the quinceañera or a family member to ask the dress code if it’s not included on the invitation.

Gift Suggestions

Family members will most likely be gifting special items like personalized jewelry or religious items. They may also be helping to pay for the event. For other guests, think about gifts a typical teen girl would enjoy. Money always tops that list, and gift cards or tickets to an event would be welcome and work well if you don’t know the girl well. Gifts that acknowledge a girl moving into adulthood would be creative and fun. You might consider a personalized makeup bag with high-end lipstick inside. Or, a special charm that could be worn on a chain. Take the gift with you to the reception; there will be a table or other specified spot for gifts.

It’s becoming more common for girls to have a gift registry so ask the parents before you purchase a gift.

You may also want to tuck a dollar in your pocket in case there is a Dollar Dance (Baile de Billete). It’s usually a longer waltz, and anyone who wants a turn dancing with the quinceañera can come up and pin a dollar to her dress.

If you receive the honor of your first invitation to a quinceañera, these tips should help you relax, feel confident, and have a wonderful time celebrating the quinceañera’s 15th birthday!

Celebrating Dia de Muertos

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Dia de Muertos means “Day of the Dead” in Spanish. This Mexican holiday is to celebrate loved ones who have passed on. Participants believe that during the celebration period, the dead awaken and celebrate alongside them. According to tradition, the gates of heaven are opened at midnight on October 31, and the spirits of children can rejoin their families for 24 hours. The spirits of adults can do the same on November 2.

THE HISTORY

Dia de Muertos is celebrated in contemporary Mexico and among many of Mexican heritage in the United States and around the world. The roots go back 3,000 years to the rituals honoring the dead in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. The Aztecs and other Nahua people living in what is now central Mexico saw death as an ever-present part of life.

MUSIC AND DANCING

Like any other celebration, Día de los Muertos is filled with music and dancing. Some popular dances include La Danza de Los Viejitos—the dance of the little old men—in which boys and young men dress as old men, walk around crouched over, then suddenly jump up in an energetic dance. Another dance is La Danza de Los Tecuanes—the jaguars’ dance that depicts farm workers hunting a jaguar.

THE SYMBOLS

The ofrenda is the most recognized symbol of Día de los Muertos. This temporary altar is a way for families to honor their loved ones and provide them what they need on their journey. They place pictures of the deceased, items that belonged to them, and objects that remind them of their lives on the ofrenda.

Every ofrenda also includes the four elements: water, wind, earth, and fire. Water is left in a pitcher so the spirits can quench their thirst. Papel Picado, or traditional paper banners, represent the wind. Earth is represented by food, especially bread. Candles are often left in the form of a cross so the spirits can find their way.

Another symbol of Dia de los Muertos are the calacas and calaveras–skeletons and skulls. They appear everywhere during the holiday: in sweets, as masks, embroidered onto clothing, and painted onto faces.

Calaveritas de azucar, or sugar skulls, along with toys, are left on the altars for children who have passed. The skull is used not as a morbid symbol but rather as a reminder of the cycle of life.

The cempasúchil, a type of marigold flower native to Mexico, is often placed on ofrendas and around graves. With their strong scent and bright color, the petals are used to make a path that leads the spirits from the cemetery to their families’ homes.

Monarch butterflies play a role in Día de los Muertos because they are believed to hold the spirits of the departed. This belief stems from the fact that the first monarchs arrive in Mexico for the winter each fall on November 1, which coincides with Día de los Muertos.

LOCAL EVENT

Hartnell College in Salinas, in conjunction with Hospice Giving Foundation is offering a free Dia de Muertos celebration on Tuesday, November 2, 2021 from 6-8 pm. The event includes an exhibition of ofrendas, music, arts & crafts, and much more. Check hospicegiving.org/signature-events for additional information.

Celebrating Dia de Los Muertos

By |

Dia de Los Muertos” means “Day of the Dead” in Spanish. This Mexican holiday is to celebrate loved ones who have passed on. They believe that during these few days, the dead awaken and celebrate alongside them. It is a joyful holiday and is for honoring rather than mourning

Dia de Los Muertos is a public holiday in Mexico and begins on October 31 and ends on November 2.

To learn more about Dia de Los Muertos:

Top Ten Things to Know About The Day of the Dead from National Geographic. Click to read.

Whether you always celebrate or if this is your first time, here are crafts and foods that will set the stage for your holiday.

Day of the Dead Mask. These colorful masks are fun to color for the kids. Just download the images using the link below.  Print the sugar skulls on white cardstock and color the masks with crayons, markers, or colored pencils. You can glue a stick on for a handle. Click here for instructions.

Day of the Dead Luminaries. Print out the template and have the kids use markers to brightly color the design. Then you simply wrap the paper into a circle and tape closed. Insert a battery-operated tealight and you have a beautiful luminary. Click here for instructions.

Skeleton Craft. Download the templates, print, and cut out. Once the kids decorate with glue and glitter (yes, it’s a glitter project!), you can attach the pieces to make the skeleton dance. Click here for instructions.

Paper Flowers. In Mexico, huge bouquets of marigolds in shades of red, orange, and yellow are placed on altars and graves on Day of the Dead. They are also strung together to create garlands that hang above the graves. To recreate the look of the colorful displays, make piles of paper flowers and fashion them into garlands or place them into vases. Click for instructions on making paper flowers.

Pan de Muerto. This traditional sweet bread is served on Dia de Los Muertos. Click for recipe and instructions.

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