15th birthday party (Fiesta de Quinceanera)

[ROGUEAGENT]

Colombian 15th birthday party (Fiesta de Quinceanera)
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Here is how this party works. Tell everybody to arrive at 9pm. Most people will arrive at 10:00-10:30pm. Start the music and dancing and make sure it is so loud nobody can have a conversation. Serve heavy alcohol while everyone has an empty stomach and low blood sugar levels. Wait as long as possible to serve food, perhaps 12:30 or 1:00am. If possible, spend your whole life savings on the food and liquor for 40-50 people, a live mariachi band, a big cake, and extensive flower arrangements.

I really wonder if most of the people at these parties, including the lucky 15 year old, appreciate the sheer excess expenditures at these parties. The uneatened food and drink could feed starving Colombian families for weeks. I think it is largely an ego trip for the person who paid the bill for all this. Kind of like buying a new Cadillac, it's like telling the world "look how much money I spent!"

Are you a neighbor of where one of these parties are being held? Want to get some sleep? Fugetaboutit.

[CaliBound]

... in response to 15th birthday party (Fiesta de Quinceane..., posted by ROGUEAGENT on Jul 10, 2005

When my girlfriend's daughter turned 15 two years ago, I spent about $1000.00 celebrating it. I took the family and some of her friends to a nice restaurant for dinner and drinks and later put her on a plane to San Andres with a group of girls that were also celebrating their 15th Birthday. She deserved every dollar I spent.

In Colombia, a girl's 15th birthday is a very important day in her life. Even if the parents don't have much money, they will find a way to buy her a dress and throw a party for the occasion.

- Frank -

[WS244]

... in response to Re: 15th birthday party (Fiesta de Quinc..., posted by CaliBound on Jul 10, 2005

Thats alright, i brought my girlfriend, her mother and father up here 3 weeks ago for my older boys wedding and that fling cost 4,000.  It costs about a 1,000 just to make one trip down there, and though you may be out an extra trip, there was one happy little girl.

[papi]

... in response to Re: 15th birthday party (Fiesta de Quinc..., posted by CaliBound on Jul 10, 2005

you are a shooter - I am impressed. good for you. i think those that go through life with a little generosity will be better in the long run. But that does not mean to throw money away and let the latinos take advantage of us like they have done so in San Jose/gringo gulch - what a disaster