“I want people to know that what they see on the outside isn’t everything that I am. So I want my quinceañera to represent everything I am."
Her mother, Nellie Viveros, says the celebration is an important part of Latino culture.
“Kids nowadays, our kids, are very Americanized and this is a part of their culture that we want them to follow tradition with. This is my only daughter and it’s once in a lifetime thing. I’m willing to sacrifice and work overtime to do the quinceañera for her.”
Experts say that over the past 10 years quinceañera have grown in size. Norma Capitanachi works for Quinceanera Magazine. She says the celebrations have also become more costly. The average family spends about $10,000, she says. But some families pay $50,000 or up to $80,000.
Celia Barrios is a professional quinceañera planner. She has organized about 300 of the parties in Los Angeles, California. Ms. Barrios says people often want to celebrate in a fancy, pricey place. And, they want others to make and serve the food, choreographers to organize the event, and designers to create specially-made dresses.
“Latino Americans that are born and raised here or have spent at least 10 to 15 years here, they’re wanting more. They kind of want to blend the tradition with something contemporary. And you know that’s where I come in.”
Some people criticize quinceañeras as a waste of money. They say the money could be used instead to pay for education or other things. But for many parents it is a special event that helps keep traditions alive.
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2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25