It is a difficult time for Latinos in London. After years of protests against regeneration plans, the Elephant and Castle shopping centre which was home to many Latino-owned business was sold to developers and demolished in 2020, displacing the lively community that used to exist there. Subsequently, shops and restaurants in the neighbourhood have had to shut down, and the Latin American community that has lived in the area for years is slowly fading away. Similarly in Seven Sisters, habitants have had to fight against developers with intentions of demolishing the indoor market known as the “Latin Village”, home to Latin business and restaurants. I wanted to understand how, amidst the ongoing gentrification, Latinos in London continue to be a knit-tight community that is proud if its culture and traditions.
On November 6th, I attended the Quinceañera party of Kimberly, the daughter of a Colombian couple who settled in the UK 20 years ago. As I entered the venue, I saw an explosion of colour and ornaments that reminded me of my country, Mexico. The venue was decorated in the kitsch style that is so representative of Latin America: every single table adorned with pink bows and centrepieces, pink and white flowers wrapped in pink tulle everywhere you look, the walls covered with flower-print wallpapers, a table full of colourful candies and a three-floor cake, and crystal-covered candles. After all the guests had arrived, Kimberly made her entrance wearing a sparkly light-pink tulle dress with pearls and flowers details.
A Quinceañera (15-year-old girl) is a tradition from Latin America which celebrates a girl’s 15th birthday, marking the transition from girlhood to womanhood. Usually, families spare no expense for the party; they take place in huge venues where family and friends enjoy a night of non-stop music, drinks, and food. Guests wear their best gowns and suits, and during the night the Quinceañera performs choreographed dances for the guests, including a waltz with her dad which is probably the most emotional moment of the celebration. At one point, she sits on a chair in the middle of the room allowing her mum to remove her tennis shoes to replace them with high heels, signifying the transition to womanhood. Although Quinceañeras are quite fun, some people might think that the meaning behind them is a little outdated and that this transition ritual is unnecessary as a 15-year-old girl is indeed still very young. However, the tradition has been kept alive for years and doesn’t seem to be dying down, as for many Latin families this is one of the most important milestones in a girl’s life.
Throughout the night, I had conversations with Kimberly’s family to get their perspective. “This day brings a lot of memories of our country and the family that is far away. We’re happy to be here, but also nostalgic of what we’ve left behind”, her dad explains. “This party is a way to connect with our culture and share with our family in Colombia the joy of seeing Kimberly become a young woman. It will mean a lot to them to see the pictures of her on this day”. Kimberly, contrary to her parents, preferred to speak with me in English. “I’m having a good time, but at the same time it is a bit embarrassing” we both laughed, as I remembered being 15 and shying away by the idea of a party where everyone’s attention is focused on me. “But I am very grateful to my parents, they’ve made a lot of sacrifices for me, and I am happy to see them happy”
Later in the night, guests were invited to watch a video sent from Colombia. In it, multiple members of the family take turns to wish Kimberly a happy birthday, say how proud of the woman she has become and how they wish they could attend the party. As guests started to get emotional, I caught myself tearing up as well. How could I get so emotional listening to people I’ve never met before? One moment we were celebrating a young girl’s birthday, and the next we were all crying! In that moment I realized how much they remind me of my own family’s warmth and sensibility. The stereotype of the dramatic Latino might be well deserved, but it is our way to express our feelings without holding back, without fearing crying or being over the top.
I wanted to get one more perspective, so I talked with Laura and her daughter Caitlin, whom I found through Laura’s YouTube channel where she vlogs her life as a Mexican in London.
“My kids have grown up in England, and it has always been a priority for me that they grow up loving Mexico as much as I do”, she explained. “We live in an area where there is not much diversity, even my husband’s family didn’t know anything about my culture! So, my mission has been to educate them on our food, traditions, why we are the way we are. I always celebrate Mexican traditions and try to get my parents-in-law and friends involved. This is my way to teach my kids to love and respect our culture” as she told me this, I could tell how excited she is to talk about her culture. Caitlin agrees with her mum, exclaiming: “yes, and we couldn’t leave the Quinceañera out!” They both laughed, suggesting that this experience has become a kind of inside joke for them. “You see, the party was so hard to organize. I was determined to do it properly, so I ordered all the ornaments from Mexico, my parents hand-made the table cloths and napkins, I hired a Mexican DJ and a band of mariachis, and I cooked for over 90 people!”, Laura said. It seems like the effort was worth it, as Caitlin recalls with happiness her 15th birthday; “my British friends had never been to a similar party, they were in shock of how much fun we had. Growing up, my mum always showed me pictures of how Quinces are like in Mexico so I was very excited to have my own”
Talking with these families made me realise that Quinceañeras have acquired so many different meanings, especially for migrant families. They are not just a party to commemorate a girl’s coming of age, but a way to connect with family, to transmit the love for our culture to the younger generation. In a time where the Latin community is fighting for our rights to exist in London, Quinceañeras are a beautiful way to express how proud we are of our origins.
