 |
Kenia Flores-Lazo in her pink dress, gloves, and tiara. |
By Kenia Flores-Lazo
Fifteen-year-old girls in El Salvador celebrate
the “Party of Rose.” This custom happens once in a lifetime to celebrate
each girl’s growing up.
Family and friends celebrate this custom. They
have a big party with food for the people. The girl wears a pink dress and pink
gloves, a tiara, and pink stockings and shoes. There is a new dance just for
this day called a circle dance which the girl dances with her father for the
first dance. Then when she finishes this special dance, she gets to dance with
a boy her age.
Everyone goes to the church where the father gives
his daughter a ring. Then everyone goes to the girl’s house for the party
with food including beef, chicken, salads and a cake with “Happy 15th
Birthday” on top. This lasts a whole evening with presents like jewelry,
money, and makeup.
I’ll never forget my 15th birthday. I remember
when my mother helped me put on my dress and my makeup. Then, when everybody
was ready, we went to the church. All my family and friends were there. When
Mass was over, everyone went to my house. My mother and another family cooked
for everyone. Then I danced with my father.
I remember when my uncle pushed my face into the
cake. Everybody was looking at me and laughing because I looked so funny. Then
I opened my gifts - a gold necklace and matching bracelet, makeup, pants, shoes,
photo album, and money. I thank all my family and friends. Then everyone went
home. Later I put together a special photo album of my happy day.
