Comparación de Cultura

In most Latin American countries, young girls turning 15 years of age is a prominent
celebration within a Hispanic family called a "quinceañera." The big gown and the lavish party
with chambelanes, male attendants, and damas, female attendants, is only apart of the
celebration. The symbolism of a quinceañera is to demonstrate the transformation of a young girl
into a female adult. Tracing back to the Hispanic indigenous groups and European culture,
quinceañeras were originally lasting for two days. Despite the millions of dollars being spent on
this “mini boda,” or small wedding, the celebration begins in attendance of church, specifically
the Catholic church. The 15-year old girl gives up her favorite doll to a younger relative, as a
sign of leaving her childhood life and into adulthood. From there, the 15-year old girl reconfirms
her love to God, in which the priest would give her a special blessing. After the religious
ceremony, the celebrant begins her descent to her luxurious party with her chambelanes,
gorgeous party decor, and her set playlist.
At the quinceañera, the celebrant arrives with her chambelanes and damas, where they
begin a rehearsed dance sequence with the movements encircling around the celebrant. Each
dama is paired up with her chambelan during the dance. However, one of the most important
events that happen during a quinceañera is the changing of the shoes. During this event, the
father of the celebrant or a designated male figure holds a ceremony where he changes the
celebrant’s flat shoes to high heels, in order to symbolize the transition. Other events that happen
during the quinceañera include the following: the father-daughter dance and the toast using
champagne glasses. The father-daughter dance involves the father/male relative of the celebrant
and the celebrant herself! This event starts off the party, which symbolizes the girl dancing with
her father for the last time as a young girl. In addition, the toast using champagne glasses
involves the girl’s relatives and they share various words of wisdom to help the girl into her
adulthood.
Just like a quinceañera, a Filipino debut is quite similar. In fact, a Filipino debut consists
of an extravagant party with a party court of both female and male friends. In addition, the
debutante wears a lavish dress and a sparkling tiara on her head. Similarly, a Filipino debut
demonstrates the transition of a young girl to a female adult in the Philippines. This party is
technically a “Filipino quinceañera.” Surrounded by her family and friends, the debutante and
her court go through a rehearsed program that consists of rehearsed dance sequences and the
father-daughter dance like the quinceañera. Similar to the toast, the relatives in the debutante’s
family would offer her some words of wisdom that would help her survive her life as an adult.
Finally, a Filipino debut would not be the same without a father-daughter dance! Like a Hispanic
quinceañera, the father or male figure in the girl’s life dances with the debutante during a
father-daughter dance that symbolizes the last dance of the debutante as a young girl.
Unlike a quinceañera, a Filipino debut has some distinct differences. For example,
Filipino debuts in the 1800’s were primarily held to introduce a woman into society. In addition,
the parents of the woman wanted to send their daughter off to eligible bachelors for marriage. In
a way, the parents wanted their daughter to be with a man who is able to support her and gain
respect in society. As for the ceremony itself, the relatives of the debutante are involved in an
event called “18 roses” and “18 candles where each male and female relative of the debutante
gives her a rose or candle and gives her words of wisdom to help her through the struggles of
being an adult. In a Filipino debut, there are other traditions that can occur in the party program
and there is no limitation of what to do. For example, for the father-daughter dance, the music
does not have to be a slow dance. It can be an upbeat kind of dance. Finally, the major difference
of both parties is that for Hispanics, 15 is the magic age of a quinceañera, while 18 is the magic
age for a Filipino debut.