Quinceanera Marks Coming of Age in Hispanic Culture

BAY COUNTY (By Kristina Riggle, Special to the Times) October 18, 2004 - She looks like a princess in her pastel pink floor-length gown trimmed with lace. Her dark hair cascades in curls down her back from a crown atop her head.

But she's not royalty. She's a Bay County teenager standing in the Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, affirming her faith in God, surrounded by family, friends and community assembled to welcome her into adulthood.

Her court consists of 14 girls and 12 boys. The girls all wear identical burgundy gowns with white trim, and they carry pink roses. The boys wear white tuxedos with burgundy ties and dark red rose boutonnières.

It's the day of Casandra Rae McDonagh's Quinceanera, the day she leaves behind her girlhood.

Cassie turned 15 on Friday, which in Mexican culture is a significant year in the life of a young woman.

She's the daughter of John and Vera McDonagh. John is Irish and part Chippewa, and grew up in Bay City.

Vera is of Hispanic descent, born in San Antonio, Texas. Her family moved to Bay City in 1965. Vera returned to Texas but in 1978 moved back to stay. John McDonagh grew up with Hispanic friends in his Bay City neighborhood, and met Vera at a Mexican dance.

Cassie's birth in 1989 was certainly something to celebrate, but it holds some frightening memories as well. Cassie was born with a rare genetic skin condition called icthyosis, characterized by extreme dryness, scaly red patches and itchiness.

At birth, she was lobster red and seemed to be encased in a membrane. Doctors didn't know what was wrong for eight days; all the while her layers of her skin peeled off.

"We didn't know if she was going to live or die, because no one knew what was wrong with her," Vera McDonagh said.

But with a diagnosis came treatment, and now Cassie is a normal, happy, outgoing teen. She's a straight-A student at Bangor John Glenn High School, and she wants to be a lawyer someday.

Cassie's difficult early days seemed far away indeed last week at a rehearsal for the Quinceanera reception, where Cassie laughed with her friends and practiced dancing "the grapevine."

"I cannot wait to cut my hair," Cassie said, looking forward to the greater freedom of being a young woman.

Traditionally, before a Quinceanera, a girl may not cut her hair, wear makeup, paint her nails, wear high heels or go out on dates. Cassie does wear nail polish, and got a haircut once in second grade.

"I'm in high school and everyone wears (makeup) except for me," Cassie said. She plans to cut her very long hair to a medium length, and wants to talk her mother into letting her color it.

Profession of faith

According to Maria Cepeda, pastoral administrator of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, the Quinceanera tradition started with the Aztec in Mexico, and it was originally only for boys.

"It was an indigenous tradition and the church adopted it," Cepeda said.

It's now celebrated by Mexican culture mainly for girls, though sometimes boys have a Quinceanera, too.

Before a Quinceanera, a girl must receive the sacraments, and both the girl and her parents must be involved in the church, including youth ministry, Cepeda said.

"The religious ceremony is to introduce the girl to the community and offer thanksgiving for her life, and it's a transition from the girl to the adulthood," Cepeda said.

On Saturday at Our Lady of Guadalupe, Cassie took part in the Quinceanera Mass, at which she became an active participant in her religion as a maturing woman. She read a passage from Isaiah, including these words: "Fear not, for I am with you."

She professed her faith, and presented the Virgin Mary with roses.

In his sermon, the Rev. Reginaldo Salcedo said, "Just like God called Isaiah, he called you and placed you here with us."

Before the Quinceanera, Cepeda held a class for all the teens in the court and Cassie, to explain the meaning of the event and to instruct them in how to "be a support group for the girl."

"It's a community celebration because everybody shares and helps with the celebration," Cepeda said.

And after the Mass, it was time to eat, and dance, and celebrate. Cassie's reception was at the LFA Hall in Frankenlust Township. The band was Tejano Sound and played Mexican music.

The Quinceanera was a new experience for some of the teens in Cassie's court.

Kayla Russett - who turned 15 herself the day of the Quinceanera - said she'd never heard of one until she met Cassie in eighth grade, and Cassie said if they were still friends when they were sophomores she could be in her Quinceanera.

Michelle Rutledge, a 15-year-old cousin, thought the event would be serious, but has found it's "really fun."

"It's like a wedding - it's so cool," said Kayla.

Distinctly different

The Quinceanera does resemble a wedding, with the pretty dress, church ceremony, group of attendants and the reception afterward. But Cepeda said they are careful to keep it distinct.

For example, during the ceremony Cassie and her attendants sat in the congregation, instead of standing up in front of the church.

The similarities are there, however. In both cases, it's a sign that Daddy's little girl is growing up.

Cassie and her father danced to "Butterfly Kisses" together at the reception, always one of their special songs.

"It was a tear-jerker," Vera said. "She's a young lady, she's no longer a little baby."

Cepeda has known Cassie since she was born and baptized at Our Lady of Guadalupe.

"She's a very nice girl, she's a happy girl, she's responsible. She has her head very well on her shoulders, she's not a crazy girl," Cepeda said.

She also observed that her parents do their best and are involved with Cassie.

"This part is very important when the parents are very involved with the children and the community. ... That's why the ceremony was so nice."