Sunday, December 31, 2017

Daniela's Quinceañera in San Francisco



It's been a while since I posted, so here goes. This week I attended a quinceana for Daniela, a girl from the village of San Francisco, who now lives in Texas (legally, by the way).



A quinceana is a "coming of age" event for a 15 year old girl. It is typically a big event, as fancy as the family can afford. In this case, the entire village was invited (and attended) to both the mass, lunch and dancing well into the night. 



The young men in their matching outfits are called "chambelanes". Sometimes they perform choreographed dance routines at the event. In larger cities, a chambelanes group can even be rented for the quinceañera!


Linda was not feeling well, and was unable to attend, so I went alone and attended the mass and the lunch (comida). I didn't stay for the dancing, which I'm sure would have been great.


I made an album for Daniela, and also downloaded all the photos to a USB drive for her as a keepsake.






Following is a selection of the photos. Although most are in normal color, some are in black & white, others use the "toy camera" mode of my camera, and still others are in black & white, except for anything red, which shows in full color.







Daniela takes the wafer during communion








This is a similar photo taken straight and in "toy camera" mode. Which do you prefer and why?



Daniela embraces her friends and family after the mass






A procession from the chapel to the lunch (comida) with her chambelanes


Daniela at the head table


A professional photographer in attendance used a frame to take pictures of guests.




I love these photos of the "guys"! They appear to be trying to look casually cool for the ladies. Boys will be boys!



 Daniela's mom, Marisela, did the cooking with her friends and family.





The chapel prior to the mass


Since there wasn't enough room in the chapel for everyone (the entire village of about 200 people), some people had to listen outside the small church




One of my young students in the sacristy


The sacristy



 
                                      This boy wasn't too happy to be there for the long mass service


               She was very well behaved, in contrast to her brother above



The professional photographer arrived late - a faux pas


Other villages sat outside listening to the service


And each of these well dressed young girls carried her cell phone!


After the service, Daniela posed for photos by her family and friends (note the multitude of cell phones)


I even was asked to pose with Daniela - the only gringo in attendance!


Exiting the chapel


The fiesta begins!




The cooks!