Sunday, August 07, 2005

A Girl's 15th Birthday the Aztec Way

air06: My Culture Traditions: "My Culture Traditions

As far that I know about my tradition is that when girls turn 15 their family makes them a celebration. These celebration is known as quinceaneras. Quinceanera is a celebration of a girl's fifteenth birthday. A special elborate celebration, the young lady begins her journey into womanhood. This celebration often includes a religious ceremony at church, in which the young lady recognizes her heritage and her spiritual journey. Many quinceaneras include a candle-lighting ceremony, where a young woman illuminates her parents' candles using the flame of her own candle. In turn, her parents light the candles of their parents, and so on. In some Latin American countries, a young woman changes her shoes from flats to heels during the ceremony.According to the Aztecs fifteen was the age at which boys became warriors and girls were also presented to the community because they were looked upon as the vital force of the tribe and its future since they had the power to become mothers and to give future warriors to the tribe. The fifteen-year old Aztec girl was exhorted and instructed by the King in the duties of womanhood, and the funeral honors for an Aztec woman who died in childbirth were the some as those for a warrior who fell in battle. Sometimes girls have a 16th celebration is called a sweet 16th they celebrate it the same way as a 15th."

Cool insight into an Aztec birthday tradition!