Fifteen Candles

HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
Vocabulary
compete: try to win a contest
amateur: someone playing a sport or doing a job for no pay
reef: underwater rock or coral near the surface of the ocean
pressure: a strong feeling of needing to get something done
challenging: not easy, testing a person’s skills
...in Action Head
Text-Sans Serif. This is URW Light 13
on 15, A prefix or a suffix can change
a word’s meaning. For example, un +
lucky = unlucky. Suffixes are added to
the end of a word. For example, jump
+ ed = jumped. As you read the article,
Micaela was
surrounded by her
friends at her 15th
birthday party.
Vocabulary
ceremony: a formal act performed during an event
tradition: a belief or an activity that is handed
down from one generation to the next
appreciate: to see the value of
culture: the total set of beliefs, values, and
activities shared by a certain group of people
thrilled: very happy and excited
look for words with un- and -ed in bold.
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Scholastic Action | September 19, 2011
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LEXILE 590
Fifteen Candles
For her birthday this year, Micaela didn’t just
celebrate getting older. She also honored her Mexican
heritage with a traditional quinceañera.
On May 7, Micaela Garcia
got dressed up in a long,
flowing gown. Her friends
met her at her church, all
wearing matching outfits.
After a special ceremony,
they took photos and had a
big party.
It may sound like a
wedding, but it wasn’t. It
was Micaela’s quinceañera
(keen-seh-on-YEH-ruh). In
some Hispanic families, this
celebration marks a girl’s
15th birthday.
ALL PHOTOS: 2011 © MARK SOBHANI
A Rich History
The idea for a special
15th-birthday celebration
began with the Aztecs. These
ancient people lived from the
1300s to the 1500s in what is
now Mexico. Experts say the
Aztecs considered anyone 15
or older to be an adult.
The Aztecs held 15thbirthday ceremonies for girls.
The girls would promise to be
mature, responsible women.
Today, teen girls in many
Latin American countries
and the U.S. continue this
tradition with quinceañeras.
Not Just a Party
Not all Hispanic girls
have a quinceañera. In
fact, Micaela (Mica) never
thought she would have one.
Mica’s dad is Mexican,
but she was more familiar
with the American culture
of her hometown, New
Braunfels, Texas. Then, last
year, Mica was invited to
several quinceañeras. She
told her mom she’d like to
have one too.
Mica’s mother is GermanAmerican. At first, her mom
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joked about it. “We can’t
have one,” she said. “We
wouldn’t know what to do.”
They did some research.
Mica learned that a
quinceañera was more than
a party. It was about taking
on responsibility in the home
and the community. She
loved the idea.
“I really appreciate
my Hispanic culture,”
Mica says. “This was a way
of celebrating who I am,
my family, and where I
come from.”
Micaela’s dad replaced her
flat shoes with high heels.
September 19, 2011
13
Dancing at the party
was lots of fun.
A Day to Remember
The first part of Mica’s
quinceañera was the church
service. “It was moving,”
says Micaela. Her parents
promised to support her
as a woman.
Mica’s family had
decorated the church hall.
After the service, everyone
went in for dinner.
Then it was time for
Micaela’s friends and family
to give her the quinceañera
gifts. These presents are part
of the tradition. Each one
has a special meaning.
One of the gifts was her
“last doll.” It stood for the
end of Micaela’s childhood.
“It was a Barbie that I had
wanted since I was really
little,” she says. “I had
forgotten about it. It was
perfect for this purpose!”
Next, Mica’s dad knelt
down and changed her flat
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Scholastic Action | September 19, 2011
shoes for high heels. This
ceremony showed that he
accepted her becoming a
woman. “I was afraid he
wasn’t going to get the
buckle,” says Mica. “It was
a very small buckle!”
Life Lessons
A quinceañera can be
expensive. But Mica didn’t
have much to spend. Her
parents are earning less
money these days. The
family had to move into a
smaller house last year.
That’s why they used
the church hall instead of
renting a hall for the party.
Mica found her dress on
sale. Friends and family
helped by donating food
and volunteering to be the
DJ or to take photos.
Mica was thrilled with
the result. “If we’d had
more money,” she says,
“I don’t think it would’ve
been as original.”
The best part was having
so many people help
make the day special. “It
makes our relationships
that much stronger,” she
says. And that’s what a
quinceañera is all about.
—Christy Damio
Mica with
her mom
and dad