My Cultural Identity

My quinceañera dress was a aqua puffy cloud. The music was blasting it could be heard international. My family members were having coversations. One of the tables was filled with presents that were big and small. There was a lot of people that you could fill a baseball stadium.

My Quinceanera. What is it? Why is it so important to me? A Quinceanera is special, not only to me but to other girls also, but why? Why is a big party so important to someone? That is the thing. People usually view it as a party only. In many cases the girl that is turning fifteen doesn’t even know the significance to it. It’s more than a party. If you view a Quinceanera from a different perspective it’s actually very meaningful and beautiful.

. The day of my Quinceanera started early. I had just turned 15 and it was the birthday I had always dreamed of. I was always a dama in other Quinceanera’s, but now it was time for my own celebration. In Mexican culture, a dama is just like a bridesmaid. I had 14 of my closest friends as my dama’s to be a part of my “court of honor”. All 14 girls wore beautiful hot pink dresses and had polished hairstyles. The girls looked like beautiful dolls. When my mother was a little girl she had two Quinceanera’s. One celebration took place in Mexico and the other here in California. Looking back at my

What is my cultural identity? Personally, I don’t think I am completely assured on what my cultural identity is, but I can do my best on explaining it. However, I won’t get started on that yet, first I’ll explain the occasion of me learning about my identity. At almost the beginning of the year, it was announced in our English class that we would be doing an essay on our cultural identities. When my teacher announced this I thought to myself, “What in the world is a cultural identity, or even my cultural identity?” In these months, we have gotten to learn the definition of culture, and what it means to us, individually., I believe that culture means a group of people that share the same customs, way of life, and beliefs. Also, over these last couple of months we have been reading texts all about people knowing and understanding their cultural identities, meanwhile I still didn’t understand my own. All I know is that I was born on February 11, 2002, I like movies and music, and my mom is from Chile and my Dad is from Virginia. Now that didn’t feel like enough for me to write on, but then I started thinking about all of the cultural differences that my parents have had raising me as a person, and how those have all combined to make me. In my short 15 years of life, the culture clashes have sometimes affected me on my thoughts and opinions, which I’ll talk about later on. As well as how movies and music have affected my perspectives and opinions.

Create a checklist of all the necessary items and supplies that must be present. A couple of hours before the Quinceanera, decorations should be placed in the venue, along with any other details. Likewise, your hair and makeup must be applied hours before the Quinceanera, to be prepared of no delays. A couple of hours will pass by and after making sure all appropriate supplies are present, you can make your way to the venue. Upon arriving at the venue, greet everyone that will already be there and express your gratitude. Supply the guest with food or what else they may require. The right tone of music should be played and see what your guest enjoy more. Follow the usual routine of a Quinceanera and any other objectives that may have been added. Although the day could be nerve wrecking, make sure to always smile, express how you feel, and enjoy your Quinceanera.

A quinceañera is a celebration of a girl's fifteenth birthday and her transition from childhood to adulthood. It was that time of year that my sister was turning fifteenth and my parents watch how parents stress when it comes to planning. They were thinking of hiring a party planner to be stress free; but I told them to save that money; therefore,

A Quinceanera is the Hispanic tradition of celebrating a young girl’s coming of age- her 15th birthday. Today’s celebrations embrace religious customs, and the virtues of family and social responsibility. The Quinceanera tradition celebrates the young girl (la Quinceanera), and recognizes her journey from childhood to maturity. The customs highlight God, family, friends, music, food, and dance.

Between the years 1999 and 2003, I lived and worked in the west Texas oilfields near Odessa, Texas hauling crude oil from oil locations to manufacturing pipelines. Due to the population density of Mexican-Americans in this area I was afforded the opportunity to befriend a co-worker who hailed from this lineage. This friendship grew to such a state of familiarity that when one of his many cousins was about to turn fifteen he invited me to attend her quinceañera. Although it is not unheard of for a European-American to join in the festivities of this time honored tradition, nonetheless, I was still thrilled to have been invited.

and most importantly a guest book so i can keep for memory for who was at my 15th birthday party (my quinceanera). At the church ceremony, a special kneeling pillow , sometimes personalized with the girls name. (mine will be.) A touch of elegance is added with a small decorated ceremony pillow for the presentation of the quinceanera’s ceremony gifts, such as a tiara.. At my reception there will be a toast made by my family to me, known as the brindis, with decorated champagne glasses mine with have my initials on it:) , the guests are invited to offer their congratulations and best wishes to me. The last doll is used as a part of the ceremony or as a decoration and keep-sake. The quinceanera doll represents last things of being a child. Also there will be a surprise birthday dance song for me. so all in all the 15th birthday party (my

La Quinceañera is a tradition birthday celebration for girls who turned 15 in Spanish speaking world. In Latino culture, most people make a big of deal for this celebration because of their religion. According to La Tradición de la Quinceañera, mothers celebrated their daughters turning 15th birthday in tradition ritual ways because this is when girls hit their maturity and their parents believed them to have good behaviors afterward. In this tradition, a lot of expensive clothing involved such as matching jewelries with their dresses. Also, their bouquet of flower represented being virgin like Virgin Mary.

The first, and arguably one of the most important characteristics of my cultural identity is my ethnicity. I come from a traditional Indian household, where both my parents grew up in India. My ancestors are from Tamil Nadu which is in the southeast

My culture identity, as I know it as is African American. My culture can be seen in food, literature, religion, language, the community, family structure, the individual, music, dance, art, and could be summed up as the symbolic level. Symbolic, because faith plays a major role in our daily lives through song, prayer, praise and worship. When I’m happy I rely on my faith, same as when I’m sad, for I know things will get better as they have before.

“Dale, dale, dale, No pierdas el tino; Porque si lo pierdes, Pierdes el camino”. The classic piñata song that is sung at parties. It translates to “Go, go, go, don't lose your aim; because if you lose it, you will lose your path.” The phrase ties in with my identity because of my cultural background and experiences at parties. Who am I? What is my cultural identity? The questions that have me trying my best not to have an existential crisis. I am a Mexican American, my parents were born in Jalisco and I was born in California. As for my cultural identity, I am a NSHS student that has been shaped by music, technology, and sports.

¨Pereme-what? That is the weirdest and longest last name i've ever heard of! Where do people get last names like that?¨ My answer? Well, my grandfather is from Siberia, but my family just consider ourselves Russian. Actually not long ago my dad had told me about a city in Russia called Peremyshl, my great great grandparents, as I was told, are from there, Peremyshl is in the Kaluga Oblast near Moscow. And because of my ethnic background, I go to my church's youth, our youth really likes to go and hang out at the park or go someplace else and play volleyball.

Almost about a year ago it was the day of my Quinceanera everyone was out and about running around my house finding last minute essentials and getting all the desserts in the kitchen. There was strawberry Round Rock donuts, pink macaroons, and strawberry, and chocolate cupcakes everywhere.