My object is a photo of my mother and her grandparents at her quinceañera, taken in 1996. The photo is old, with torn edges and fading colors. In the center of the image, my mother stands, wearing a white dress that symbolizes purity.  Her grandmother is on her right, wearing a blue dress with her grandfather on her side, dressed in a white button-down shirt. Her brother is on her far left.  Though it's never really brought up, the picture sits on my mother’s dresser in a frame along with other memorabilia from her grandmother and her birthplace, Del Rio. The Quinceañera tradition dates back to the years 250-900 AD when the Mayan/Aztec civilizations were flourishing. The Mayan/Aztec people celebrated the tradition as a rite of passage marking the beginning of a young girl's transition into womanhood. Over the years, quinceañera culture has grown and changed into a celebration of multiple cultures of women. The photo serves as a reminder of the colorful heritage that Latino-American women bring. The tradition evolves as the people immigrate and adapt to their new surroundings. The quinceañera tradition not only brings my family together, but also unites the Latino Community in celebration of their women, generation after generation. 

– Em Morales

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more