Große Gesten, Hintergrundmusik und Requisiten – CIRCUS-Artist Ángeles Batista fährt alles auf, was ein Zuschauerherz begehrt. Die Bloggerin aus Mexico konnte leider nicht zu unseren Blog Slams anreisen und euch in nicht-virtuellen Weiten vorlesen. Deshalb veranstalten wir heute eine virtuelle Lesung und präsentieren euch einen exklusiven Einblick in CIRCUS #1 Fashion und Ángeles’ Artikel über das Quinceañera, der traumhaften, mexikanischen Feier zum 15. Geburtstag.

Falls ihr kein Spanisch versteht, gibt es hier den entsprechenden Ausschnitt aus ihrem Artikel auch auf Englisch zu lesen:

My Super Sweet Quinceañera

Mariana turned 15 on Thursday. Mariana’s family and closest friends ate cake and sang “Happy Birthday.” But, the real celebration takes place today — Saturday. Her birthday fell on a weekday and with many people committed to school or work the following morning, it was decided that Mariana and her parents would save the big celebration for the weekend. She’s been waiting for this occasion since she was ten; when her elder sister turned 15 and held a party, just like almost all the young women in her family. 300 people were invited to a specially reserved party space; a three-layered cake was ordered, along with a band. And Mariana is at the centre of it all.

In Mexico, turning 15 is a social event that involves the whole family. It is the rite of passage celebrating the transformation from girl to woman. Despite this cultural significance, however, the initiation has given way to a ritual of idolisation, with the birthday girl being treated like a television star or a pop diva.

On Saturday, Mariana starts off early — and hectically. There is simply too much on her mind, even though her family will take care of everything. After breakfast, Mariana and her sister will head directly to the beauty salon in a taxi. Mariana will spend three hours getting a manicure and having her hair and make-up done. These few hours pale into insignificance when compared to the eight months it has taken to organise the party and the four years Mariana’s parents have spent saving for the event.

Mariana got her clothes from her paternal uncle, who currently lives in Los Angeles. He couldn’t attend so he offered to pay for “the best dress Mariana can get,” and anything else she may need. When it comes to buying a quinceañera dress, there are many people, promising many things. It was her uncle’s money that paid for her shoes and her Swarovski crystal embedded tiara. But, all that glitters is not gold and designers claiming to be haute couture are well aware that the girl turning 15, neither understands nor particularly cares that this term is legally protected by the Chambre Syndicale de le Haute Couture in Paris. After all, just one dress for a quinceañera can provide the creator with enough earnings for an all-inclusive holiday to Thailand. The instant a designer becomes connected to soap stars and pop singers, their dresses double in value; regardless of quality or originality. Many of the dresses available are limited in style. They largely follow the “fairytale princess” look, with only the materials, details and colours changing over time. At the start of the 21st century, glittery fabrics are all the rage.