The Quince Años celebration

an important custom of Mexican culture

by Sr. Anna Marie Reha, SSND

Director of Hispanic Ministry

The celebration of the Quinceañera is a custom of the Mexican culture. When a young person reaches their fifteenth birthday, the family might mark the occasion with a Quinceañera or quince años (fifteen years) celebration. It is costume to include a Mass of Thanksgiving for this celebration. It is an opportunity for evangelization for the young woman or man, and for the family and friends.

The exact origin of the Quince Años celebration is unknown. It probably stems from pre-Colombian rites of initiation for both boys and girls who were regarded as having "come of age". It is an example of what anthropologists call a "rite of passage" – a celebration that publicly acknowledges the changed social status of a member of a given society. It marks the passage from childhood to adolescence, and it gives thanks to God for the gift of life. The celebration has deep religious significance. The Quinceañera Mass is an act of thanksgiving for life; this celebration is not a sacrament. The "rite of passage" has a parallel in the Euro-American debutantes’ ball or "coming out" celebration.

The preparation for the Quince Años provides the opportunity for a young person to reflect on life’s purpose, to renew their relationship with Christ, and an opportunity to re-evaluate their role in society and in the Church. It is a time to give thanksgiving for the life received and rededicate oneself to the values of the Reign of God.