Quinceanera Accessories

A young Hispanic girl’s Quinceanera should be memorable. Why? A Quinceanera is an event or a celebration practiced by Latin Americans similar to the European or American debutante ball. This very traditional occasion is celebrated in many Latin American countries and other countries that are now homes of many Latin Americans. It also signifies a girl’s journey from child to adulthood or a young woman.

One of the many traditions of the Quinceanera is for the young girl to dress her best in a dress or gown. Traditionally, the young girl is supposed to wear white but these days, many girls opt for deeply colored gowns that reflect their heritage and their culture. In most cases, the fifteen-year-old girl also wears a tiara and a scepter as a symbol of her impending womanhood and her being a princess placed in front or offered to God. The tiara does not need to be made from real diamonds or other precious stones. Most tiaras for sale are made from beautiful crystals or colored glass that can really brighten up your day.

Traditionally, the celebration starts with the celebrant wearing a headpiece, which is not the tiara. The tiara is later on presented to the celebrant and the tiara replaces the earlier headpiece after the church event. The coronation or crowning is followed by the presentation of the scepter, which is a symbol of authority and that of the power of a woman. In a traditional Quinceanera, the tiara and scepter should be gifts from sponsors or members of the family as a symbol of their trust and anticipation of her coming adulthood. Both the crowning of the tiara and the presentation of the scepter usually occurs in the reception, after the church celebration.

Other quinceanera accessories that are usually used are kneeling-pillows and other much smaller cushions where the gifts for the celebrant are presented. There are now many other quinceanera accessories available for young girls celebrating their Quinceanera. Among these are cake server sets which can be engraved with the celebrants name and the date of the celebration, cake tops which are usually Quinceanera dolls, guest registry books, champagne glasses and many more. Some celebrants also give out keepsakes or mementos of this joyous occasion.

A Quinceanera candle is also lit in the more traditional celebration of the Quinceanera ceremony. This is another accessory that a Quinceanera should not go without. Another accessory that is a must-have in the Quinceanera celebration are high-heeled shoes. These elegant shoes are traditionally brought in to replace the flat shoes that the celebrant initially wears in the beginning of the ceremony. These high-heeled shoes signify the grown up status that the fifteen-year-old girl has now achieved upon her birthday.

Another traditional quinceanera accessory that a celebrant usually has if she has a younger sister is a porcelain doll. This porcelain doll is a representation of her last toy, which she gives to her younger sister. It is symbolic of leaving childhood and moving on to adulthood.

And off course, not to forget the earrings and necklace that will go with the dress that the celebrant is wearing. Take note that it will be better to keep the jewelry to a minimum if the celebrant’s gown or dress has many sequins or patterns. On the other hand, an elegant piece of jewelry will accentuate a simple gown or dress.

The Quinceanera celebration is indeed a very symbolic and traditional event that many young Hispanic girls look forward to. It is full of traditions that have been handed down from generation to generation starting from ancient Aztec traditions and beliefs. These were integrated and adopted by the progeny of the Aztecs and soon was also integrated into the religious Catholic Church. It is a milestone in a young girl’s life and is one of the most memorable events to celebrate. And it’s worthwhile to spend time and money for the necessary preparations.