September 28, 2016

First Quinciñeara at Lopez Center Showcases Hispanic Tradition

The extended family of Lopez High School sophomore Noemi Moreno hosted a gala Quinciñeara earlier this month to celebrate her 15th birthday. This is the first such Hispanic community event held at Lopez Center. Said to originate in Aztec and Mayan culture, the event marks the symbolic change of a girl into a woman.

Following tradition, this quinciñeara (fiesta de quince años) began with a Catholic mass at Center Church, where Noemi arrived in formal evening dress, accompanied by her mother Irma Espinosa Moreno, stepfather Vicente Cruz Nuñez, her escort (chambelan) Lopez High School junior Miguel Velasco, and her attendants (damas), six exquisitely dressed little girls.

At the Lopez Center Noemi greeted guests, introduced her family, and encouraged everyone to start eating. The buffet included beans, pork, chicken and rice, and chili mole sauce—her mother's specialty.

Guests continued to arrive over the next two hours, Lopezians of all ages, occupations, and backgrounds, nearly everyone dressed in their very best—even the babies. At 7pm what has to be the best buffet ever for children—the Candy Table—was opened and the center of the room cleared. On the stage Noemi's parents removed her tiara and replaced it with a crown to mark her transition from "princess" to woman. This was followed by the gift of a large doll representing her last toy and the end of childhood. Aunts and uncles joined them on stage to lead a toast of sparkling cider.

All but Noemi, her parents and chambelan left the stage and the waltz began: Noemi with her stepfather, Miguel with her mother. After a few minutes aunts and uncles, two by two, stepped up and replaced the parents. Other pairs lined up to replace them: friends, teachers, neighbors, children. For 30 minutes the music played as Noemi and Miguel, who'd been practicing for months, waltzed with their ever-changing partners in a spectacle as dizzying and delightful as a carousel.

The evening ended with a crowded dance floor and little girls twirling on stage in their ruffled, sequined dresses.

"I've long wanted the Hispanic community to feel part of the Lopez Community Center," says Director Janet Baltzer. On this night it happened.

Photograph by Summer Moon.