Sonia's Gayle Flores Quinceañera

This beautiful young lady is leaving her childhood behind and stepping into women hood. Sonia looked like a princess with her beautiful dress, crown, jewelry, nails and make-up. In today’s world this traditional celebration is not as common as it used to be, sadly it is a fading tradition that not many young Latina women will get to experience. "Quinceañera, also called fiesta de quince años, fiesta de Quinceañera, Quince años or simply Quince, is the celebration of a girl's fifteenth birthday celebrated by many Latin Americans Unlike the American “Sweet 16” celebration. Quinceañera are celebrations for when a young woman turns 15 years old. The birthday is celebrated differently from any other as it marks the transition from childhood to young womanhood. Latin myths and tradition talk about how girls were prepared to be married by the age of fifteen, in the years prior to their fifteenth birthdays, girls were taught to cook, weave, and about child rearing by the elder women in their communities in preparation for their lives as married women. Although it is agreed that the traditions of Quinceañera originated in ancient Aztec culture, the celebrations today vary significantly across countries, celebrations in some countries, for example, have taken on more religious overtones.

Sonia kept the traditional meaning to a Quinceañera for her big day, she had her big lavender dress, high heels to pave the way to being an adult, the earrings are a reminder to keep her ears open to god and her faith, meaning to practice what she preaches, the Tiara is to symbolize the beauty of the young woman in the eyes of god, and the scepter is a symbolism of authority and new set of responsibilities. There are also the traditions of the cake cutting, the father daughter dance, and court dance and her every own that she put together.

What did this Quinceañera mean to you and your daughter? -As a little girl around 4 years old my daughter has been planning and dreaming of having a Quinceañera. Sonia would refuse to wear dresses and yet envisioned her Quince wearing the biggest fluffiest ball gown out there.

Now that she is going from childhood to womanhood what goals does, she have set? Sonia is very focus and driven. As she becomes a young woman, she is starting to see how fleeting childhood is. Some of her goals are to become a multi-sport athlete and balance school/sports life in a way that can be able to develop healthy social relationships.

The celebration was it done in religious setting? We did not celebrate in a religious setting for Sonia, her Quinceañera was more about bring family and friends together for a celebration of her as a young woman. To enjoy friendships in a formal celebratory setting.

Who are her godparents? Her Aunties! Always. Tia Rachel Tia Issy Tia Lindsay and names of people in the court? Sydney Guerin Aaliyah Blocker Gabriella Ontiveras Lelani Hernandez

Having this party for your daughter to keep traditions alive what did that mean to you and your family knowing an old cultural celebration has died out in today's world but was still celebrated for her. - Sonia is 2nd generation Mexican from her father's side and 2nd generation Pacific islander from her mom's side. She grew up with an abundance of exposure to both cultures. She is 1 of 100+ grandbabies from her Mexican family and keeping this tradition was a curtsy of respect to that culture and fading tradition. It was even more fulfilling celebrating her Quinceañera in Spokane with friends and family that had never been to one, heard of them, or knew anyone who has had one. Celebrating Sonia allowed her to share her traditions and Mexican culture with friends and family in attendance to their first Quinceañera.

“Today, Quinceañera, you reaffirmed your promises to God. You’ve honored yourself, your family and your religion—and that’s something to be proud of on this special day. Feliz Cumpleaños.”

"Una Quinceanera celebra el momento en que deja atras su infancia y se conviente en una mujer que mujer que puede mejorar al mundo."

"Solo se cumplen 15 anos una vez en la vida asi celebremos!" 

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