Quinceañera
By: edited by Ilan Stavans.
Contributors: Stavans, Ilan.
Publisher: Greenwood Press; Greenwood
Published: 2010
Place of publication: Santa Barbara, Calif
Language: eng
Number of pages: 134
ISBN-13: 9780313358241; 9780313358258
Subjects: Quinceañera (Social custom) -- United States; Hispanic American teenage girls -- Social life and customs; Sex role -- United States; Hispanic Americans -- Social life and customs; Hispanic Americans -- Rites and ceremonies; Hispanic Americans -- Ethnic identity; United States -- Ethnic relations
Description: This volume examines the importance of ritual and celebration and the quinceanera celebration's growing social importance to the Latino community, particularly in the United States. The essays explore the quinceanera and the coming-of-age ritual from various angles. Prior to 2007, the quinceanera received no formal ritual through the Catholic Church, which has since issued one. As such, the role of religion and the Catholic Church in the quinceanera celebration is given extensive consideration. Gender, family status, class, race, as well as the aspects of performance are all discussed as central themes of the celebration. Delving through myriad perspectives, The book illuminates the festivities' form and function in creating social and personal identity within the family and the larger Latino community.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction / by Ilan Stavans; title: pt. 1. Preparativos; title: Quinceañera debutante : rites and regalia of American debdom / by Karal Ann Marling; title: Making gender and ethnic identities / by Karen Mary Dávalos; title: The power of ritual in the Chicano community : a young woman's status and expanding family ties / by Ruth Horowitz; title: From church blessings to quinceañera Barbie? : America as "spiritual benefactor" in la quinceañera / by Kristen Deiter; title: Becoming a mujercita / by Valentina Napolitano; title: Performance of race, culture, class, and religion in the Sommerville community / by Sara Arcaya; title: pt. 2. Testimonios; title: Give us this day / by Judith Ortiz-Cofer; title: La bendición / by Julia Alvarez; title: A conversation with Francisca "Panchita" Dávila.