Chandler High is a school flourishing with ethnic diversity and a blend of beautiful traditions and culture, all packed within these very halls. Each student brings to this campus their own rich history and heritage, uniting us all into the most diverse high school in Arizona. One cultural tradition celebrated by many of our Hispanic and Latina Wolves is the quinceañera, the traditional celebration of womanhood.
A quinceañera is a traditional coming of age ceremony for a fifteen year old girl, thought to have originated from ancient Aztecs and Mayans with a mixture of Spanish and Roman Catholic culture. In her quinceañera, a girl will wear a large ballgown and a tiara. The party itself consists of many traditions such as dances with family members and having a court of her friends (chambelanes and damas) to accompany her on her big day.
Many CHS students take part in this tradition every year, including sophomore Graciela Bautista Alvarado. “Growing up I always heard my mom and my aunts talking about how they had their quince, so I always had that thought in my head that I also want to experience that,” Graciela explained.
For Graciela, her quinceañera was more than just an excuse to dress like a princess and throw a big party, it was a way of participating in her culture and Latina heritage. “The way I was taught is that it’s you transitioning into a young woman, so I think it’s important for our culture,” she said.
Ultimately, a quinceañera is about community. Graciela said the experience showed her the importance of family: “I really do have a lot of support around me and that no matter what I have my family that I can go to.”
