La Quinceanera is a very special day in the life of a Latina. It's her 15th birthday celebration and the end of her childhood journey. It's the recognition of her womanhood. The words "la Quinceanera" ? owes it's origin to the Spanish words "Quince" ? meaning fifteen and "Anos" ? meaning years. It is often said that the celebration have evolved from the ancient Aztec customs. It is a traditional social celebration of the 15th birthday, when a young Latina is recognized and accepted to have attained womanhood by her family in front of her community.

La Quinceanera is celebrated mostly in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Central and South America. Traditionally, the celebration begins with a religious ceremony and a reception either at home or in a banquet hall followed by food and music. The quinceanera's court may comprise of young girls called Dama or young men called Chambel n or both. Traditionally up to fourteen persons can be included in a court. The birthday girl wears a formal dress usually white in color to symbolize purity and innocence.

The customs of La Quinceanera, however, varies in different places. In Mexico, a Catholic quincea era begins with a Thanksgiving Mass. After the Mass, the younger sisters, female cousins and friends of the quincea era pass out party favors and the quincea era leaves her bouquet in an altar to the Virgin Mary. The party involves a traditional dance of the birthday girl first with her father, and then with the other male members. In Cuba, a choreographed group dance is organized, in which 16 couples waltz around the Quincea era, who is led by one of the top dancers of her choice or her boyfriend. Other than the usual gathering and party, there are some more interesting customs of La Quinceanera which symbolizes the transition from the childhood to womanhood of a Quincea era. One of them is the giving and throwing of a quince doll. The presentation of the doll signifies the young lady's last doll, which is then thrown away towards other young women present in the celebration much like the garter is thrown by a bride after a wedding ceremony. Another one is where the birthday girl wears her tennis shoes until her inaugural dance when her father removes them and puts her high heels on signifying her becoming a young lady. La Quinceanera with all it's grandeur also calls for certain customary gifts. They often include tiaras, bracelets, rings, earrings, a cross or a medal or a necklace, a prayer book and rosary. However, other than these customary gifts, other gifts can also include decorated and engraved champagne glasses, scepters, flower bouquets, gift pillows etc. Invitation and reception cards are also common. Nowadays a quincea era is also wished on this special day by her long-distance relatives and friends through free La Quinceanera ecards that can be easily found on the World Wide Web. A few card sites like 123greetings.com and Bluemountain have good cards on this event Thus, La Quinceanera is a very special event happening only once in a girl's life. So it is a time to celebrate life and reaffirm one's commitment to her family, her friends, her tradition, and her community.