LESSON C MEXICAN PARTIES
1. DISCUSS THESE QUESTIONS IN TEAMS:
1. What are typical celebrations in Mexico?
2. How do girls celebrate their 15th birthday in your hometown?
In Mexico, a girl who is going to have her 15th
birthday is a quinceañera. It is a combination of
the Spanish words quince "fifteen" and años
"years".The girl's 15th birthday party is a "fiesta de
quince años" or "fiesta de quinceañera."
This celebration marks a girl's becoming a mature
person who is ready to take on family and social
responsibilities. People of all social strata
celebrate a fiesta de quince años. In the United
States, people celebrate the "Sweet Sixteen", but
the custom of the quinceañera is gaining tradition
in recent years, particularly among Latino families.
A quinceañera celebration usually begins with a
mass in church to give thanks for the girl who is
going to make the transition to a young woman.
The girl wears a long ball gown in her favorite
color and carries a bouquet. After the mass, the
guests go to a banquet hall where the party takes
place. In rural communities, tables, chairs and a
tent area are prepared for the festivities. The party
goes on for several hours. There are flowers,
balloons and decorations matching the birthday
girl's dress. The party consists of dinner and
dancing, but there are also several special
traditions that vary regionally.
The parents, godparents, and often other family
members have roles to play in the celebration.
65
Here are some of the elements of the quinceañera
celebrations that are common in Mexico:
• Chambelanes: The translation is "chamberlains,"
these are boys or young men who escort the
quinceañera and perform a choreographed dance
with her. They usually dance a waltz, but often
incorporates other modern dance styles.
• The last doll: Tradition says that the birthday girl
is now too old to play with dolls, so she passes the
doll on to a sister or other younger family member.
The first flower bouquet: They offer the birthday
girl a bouquet of flowers that symbolizes the first
flowers she receives as a young woman.
The climax of the festivities is the cutting of a
birthday cake, and the guests sing the traditional
birthday song, Las Mañanitas, to the birthday girl.
The quinceañera party is a costly celebration for
the family. For this reason, it is a custom for the
extended family and good family friends to make
contributions, with money or help with the things
that are necessary for the party.
However, some families decide not
to throw a party, and use the
money to send the girl
on a trip instead.
 2. READ THE TEXT AND MATCH THE WORDS OR PHRASES IN BOLD TO THEIR
DEFINITIONS. WRITE THE NUMBERS ON THE LINES:

1. take on people that provide something for the realization of the party
2. strata long dress for dancing at formal parties
3. mass expensive
4. ball gown formal dance, usually turning rhythmically around and around.
5. balloons organize a party.
6. godparents people’s levels in society.
7. waltz a bunch of flowers arranged in an attractive way.
8. bouquet assume, start to do.
9. costly rounded rubber bags that becomes larger with air or gas.
10. throw a party a religious ceremony.

3. ACCORDING TO THE TEXT, ARE THESE STATEMENTS CORRECT OR INCORRECT?

DISCUSS THEM IN TEAMS.

1. Quinceañera parties are more popular than Sweet Sixteen parties in the U.S.
2. Both rich and poor people make Quinceañera parties.
3. During the quinceañera dinner, people attend a Mass.
4. As part of the celebration, the girl gives all her dolls as a present.
5. Most families worry about the cost of the celebration.

66