CULTURE
A Cultural Tradition —
A Modern Girl
girl’s pale-pink theme. In the quinceañera tradition, the birthday girl selects an honor t was the kind of summer court made up of close friends and famday in Central Oregon that ily—which can include both girls, called people live for—sunny skies, damas; and boys, called chambelanes, or warm-but-not-too-hot temperaescorts. Rodriguez’s chambelanes genertures and a stunning view of the ally wore shades of pink—but because this Cascades looming overhead. was a modern “quince,” they eschewed the If Bend teen Sophia Rodriguez suits or tuxedos found in more traditional could have picked an ideal day quinceañera parties—instead mostly wearto mark her 15th birthday with a ing polo shirts, in what might be deemed lavish celebration, this would be “dressed up for Bend.” it. Rodriguez was celebrating “What made it more modern was that her quinceañera—a rite of pasI only gave out a color suggestion sage for many Latinx teens on for dresses. I wanted everyone to their 15th birthdays. This one, express themselves, more than in particular, was “more modern giving them a more uniform thing than other quinceñeras,” she to wear,” Rodriguez said. “I didn’t told me on her big day. grow up with quinceañeras all When I arrived at the party— the time because there aren’t a Photo by Miryssa Epinoza-Heim to which I’d been invited as the lot of Latinos in Bend.” mom of one of the members of Quinceañera parties are steeped in many her “honor court”—Rodriguez had changed out of the flowing, traditions—many of which Rodriguez and her princess-like dress she had worn throughout the day, switchparents opted to take part in, even while the ing into a more comfortable white linen dress. It had already quinceañera herself aimed to take that more been a packed day; she and her family—and entourage— modern approach. Being a tradition that signals moving from church to home to the party at the event space at a girl’s move into womanhood, traditional Aspen Lakes Golf Course. At the party, dozens of tables were quinceañeras involve a blessing at Mass at a decked out with flowers; side tables dressed with fruits, canCatholic church, the gift of the girl’s last doll dies and Mexican-inspired delights such as corn on the cob, and the girl’s father helping her change from dripping with a mix of butter and chile. On a side table, not a pair of flat shoes into heels. At the party, one, but eight round, white cakes were prepared for guests. there’s also a dance involving father Later, guests would enjoy dancing and a catered dinner. and daughter, as well as a formal Milling around were at least a dozen other teen girls, toast. While the Rodriguez family took dressed in varying pastels to go along with the birthday
By Nicole Vulcan
I
Local teen celebrates her quinceañera, honoring traditions while doing things her own way
Left: Sophia Rodriguez and some of her “damas” share a light moment outside her quinceañera party. Right: Damas and chambelanes slurp on their ramen—one of the non-traditional choices made for Sophia Rodriguez’s quinceañera. Photos by Nicole Vulcan
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