Colombian Culture, Colombia Adoption and Raising Colombian Kids

One thing I have noticed while following adoptive family blogs is that many adopted children have birthdays while the family is in process in Colombia, or within a few months of returning home. A few weeks ago, I received an e-mail from a family anticipating the adoption of their child who will likely celebrate her birthday while the family is in Colombia. The question, "Are there any Colombian birthday traditions we should be aware of?" This question brought about an interesting conversation between my husband and me. Later, I spoke with other family members and even sent out a request to my online Colombian friends. Unfortunately, there was painfully little that anyone could come up with. So, here are the things that I did learn. Besides the Quinceañera, the only other birthday that seems to be special is the 1st birthday. Many families, but by no means all families, will spring for a big shindig on their child's first birthday. They will invite loads of people and feed...

The word Quince in Spanish means 15. The Quinceañera is a girl who is turning 15 years of age. In Colombia (as well as many other Latin American countries), depending on the family's economic means, this birthday is celebrated with a special party -- a sort of coming of age party. This party, called the Fiesta de Quince , ushers the young woman from the world of childhood into the world of womanhood. However, the kind of party you get will depend on your economic station in life. The more wealthy your family is, the fancier the party, the poorer your family is, the more simple. However, no matter your station, there are certain elements that are part of nearly every Quinceañera celebration. #1 The Hair, Make-up and Nails. Every girl will have a special hairdo for the occasion. Most families will splurge and send the girl to the beauty salon where she will get he royal treatment -- hair, nails, make-up, etc. She needs to look her very best. #2 The Dress. Most 15 year old Colombi...