Staff Writer
The men were lining up to dance with Diana Hernandez when she had her quince anos, and she didn't disappoint on her big day.
Plenty of people partied into the wee small hours that night, all to celebrate Diana turning 15 and becoming an adult in the eyes of the Hispanic community.
"You have to have a party when you're 15 years old because you're never going to be 15 again," she said.
Sweet 15
Quince anos is the equivalent of a girl's "sweet 16" party, except that it's celebrated on or around her 15th birthday in the Hispanic community, according to Martha Arenas-Fenn, coordinator of Hispanic pastoral services for the diocesan Family Life Office.
The origins of quince anos go back to ancient agricultural cultures, in which the most important thing was the creative force of nature. Many divinities in those cultures represented such life-giving elements as earth, water and sun.
Fertility was associated with women, and many communities celebrated the moment at which a young woman became capable of giving birth. This celebration assured the community of its continuity because life would be passed on; it was important for the community that a girl make a commitment to serve and help ensure its future.
Community event
This ritual of a young girl as an adult member of the community also was an affirmation that the whole community was in proper relationship with the divinities and the order of nature.
The idea of fertility means more than just a girl's ability to have children; quince anos celebrates her response to the call of her community, not necessarily her physical ability to have children.
Today, when a young Hispanic woman turns 15, the whole community joins her to give thanks for her life and to witness her commitment to serve the community and to be faithful to her beliefs in the future with full responsibility as an adult.
Catholic moment
Quince anos includes a Mass in which the girl is quite literally the center of attention; she sits in the middle of the sanctuary, as a bride and groom would do at their wedding. The girl gives thanks to God for her life, renews her baptismal promises and makes a new commitment o serve her community.
Scripture readings convey the promise of a continuous presence of God among people through the commitment and actions of this young woman
Diana, who now lives in Albany, had her quince anos in Guanajuato, Mexico, a few days before her 15th birthday. It was a September night, and Diana wore a special dress for the occasion. Many friends, family members and relatives came in formal dress for the Mass, which was followed by a party that lasted well into the night.
Night of dancing
Dinner was served at the party, but unlike American parties at which gift-giving is popular, quince anos doesn't involve many gifts, Diana pointed out.
At the party, the male guests lined up to dance with Diana, including her father and older brother. Even after everybody had their chance, the music didn't stop on her big night, and neither did those dancing.
"You dance until two, three o'clock in the morning," she said.