Hispanic Traditions At LHS
BY AMY LIRIANO — Staff Writer
Hispanic Heritage Month is ending soon on October 15th. The U.S. made this a national month to appreciate and acknowledge Hispanics and their traditions. Here are a few popular traditions that are celebrated by most Hispanics.
Fiesta Quinceañera (or Fiesta Rosa)
A quinceañera is a popular celebration of a 15 year old girl’s birthday in Latin America. The Quinceañera has cultural roots in Mexico, and celebrates the end of childhood and the start womanhood. In the past the girls would be taught cooking, weaving, and childbearing from elder women before their 15th birthday. This was for the girl to learn how to be a good wife to a family of her own. The father, during the celebration, would show his daughter possible suiters for marriage. This tradition of finding husbands or getting ready for marrige is not done by many. Most hispanics now celebrate the start of womanhood for their 15 year old daughter. Many quinceanera celebrations vary from party to party depending on where they are from and their culture.
Día de Los Muertos
Dia de Los Muertos is celebrated on the 1st and 2nd of November. Dia de Los Muertos translated simply means the day of the dead. This originated in Mexico and is mainly celebrated by many with Mexican Heritage. The tradition is done to honor and remember the dead. The day is not meant to mourn over the death but to remember funny times with the deceased. They generally have home altars with the favorite food and drinks of the dead. They sometimes bring these gifts to their grave.
Piñatas
Many people love hitting piñatas on their birthday to recieve the sweets that lay inside. However, in past traditions the piñata represents a man’s struggle to resist temptations. It’s been said that the points on a piñata represents the seven deadly sins. The person would be blind folded and spun for each year Christ has lived. The blind fold represents the faith and the beating of the piñata represents the struggle to defeat evil and temptations. When the piñata breaks, it gives the person a treat for being able to resist the temptation of evil. Though the Catholic part has been lost, the tradition is still used by many for birthday parties to celebrate.
Many Hispanics celebrate different traditions depending on where they are from, and there are many more Hispanic traditions out there to explore. Take some time and learn more about the traditions of your Hispanic friends or family during Hispanic Heritage Month.
