Ramirez and Cedillo families celebrate quinceañera of fifteen-year-old Nohely

Nohely poses with her parents at her quinceañera

A few weeks ago, Juan M. Ramírez and Norma J. Cedillo celebrated the fifteenth birthday party of their daughter Nohely - her quinceañera - with a thanksgiving mass officiated by Father David at Sacred Heart Church, followed by a celebration at Music Valley Event Center, where Nohely danced the waltz to the delight of her family who came all the way from Texas to join her on the very special day.

The quinceañera - sometimes just called a "quince" (meaning "fifteen" in English) - is celebrated in some Latin American cultures with as much pomp as a U.S.-style senior prom, but with family in attendance. The celebration marks the young girl's passage to womanhood.

The celebration occurs frequently enough in Nashville. Its existence pops up in the mainstream media every once in a while, such as in the Nashville Scene's Best of Nashville 2007 (one of the categories was Best Place to Buy Quinceañera Supplies), and in last month's stories about the young hero Dalia Perez.

Photo and first paragraph above reproduced with permission from the Hola TN newspaper, Ed. 41, p. 16.