Probably close to 15 years ago, my family was invited to attend the Quinceanera of a girl from our church. We had gotten to know both her and her older brother because I was the leader of the youth group and he was one of the student leaders. It was our first time going to a Quinceanera, so we did some research on what to wear and what to bring as a gift.
The day arrived for the party, and my wife, daughter and I showed up, dressed in our best for the event. That was a good thing because most people there were also dressed to the nines. We had heard that Quinceaneras were a big deal in Hispanic families, but this was confirmation that it was even bigger than we’d imagined.
Another thing also became clear very quickly – we were the only non-Hispanic people at the party. Did that make us uncomfortable? Perhaps, at first. But our hosts were so grateful to have their children’s leaders from church that they went out of their way to make us feel at home. Still, there was so much that we didn’t understand, and not just because of the language barrier. A Quinceanera is a very big cultural event that encompassed everyone in the family’s sphere. It seemed as though everyone they had ever known was there, and most of them brought things that were needed for the party. Food. Drinks. Decorations. It was a real education in the broader meaning of family and what it means to come together for a major celebration.
I didn’t pretend to understand everything that happened that day, nor do I pretend to have that knowledge even today. But I’m still so grateful to that family for asking us to be a part of such a special event. Even though our difference in shade made us stand out, the things that we had in common created a bond that made our time there special and memorable.
