Despite changing times, many families continue to encourage their young woman to attend the mass as a central part of her coming of age. In fact, the Misa de Acción de Gracis is a time for the quince girl to reaffirm her values and beliefs, especially as they regard her family, her community, and not least importantly her faith.
The Mass is also a time for the parish to recognize the young woman as an adult in the eyes of her parish.
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The Quinceanera Catholic Mass Traditions
The Quinceanera girl comes to her Misa de Accion de Gracis bearing her ultima muneca, or "Last Doll." This doll symbolizes the end of her childhood and the last toy she'll have as a girl. In some traditions, she exchanges this for a bouquet of flowers to carry down the aisle to her mass.
Quince girls are accompanied to the Mass by their parents and sometimes a extra set of godparents chosen especially for the occasion. While they are sometimes the godparents chosen at birth by her parents, they can also ben individuals the girl wants to contain in her growing maturity.
The ceremony has all the parts of a normal Catholic Mass and also extra observances. Parents and friends are invited to read foremost passages from the Bible. The minister says a few words about virtue and faith and blesses a rosary, Bible, and other gifts to be given to the girl at her fiesta later that evening.
There is also a "coronation ceremony" where the Quince girl's mother or godmother places a tiara on her head. This is a tribute to an old convention where the Quince girl was established as an valid princess within her family and a young woman in her community. At the end of the aid the Quince girl may leave the bouquet of flowers on the church altar as an contribution of faith.
Many parishes now hold one singular Misa for all their Quince girls in a given time, ordinarily once a month. You should check with your local rectory to see if extra inexpressive masses are available.
Other Faiths, Other Traditions
Historically Latino families have been roughly exclusively Catholic, though many in the United States have begun accepting other faiths and denominations. There are no long-standing traditions about the Quinceanera celebration in other countries, but an expression of faith and devotion is still possible.
Some Quinceanera girls have chosen to hold extra prayer ceremonies that allow her the opportunity to give thanks and praise in the business of family and friends. Others select to spend a few moments with their parents in quiet prayer before the fiesta.
