HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — A dressed-up family in a photo session at Centennial Park on Saturday afternoon included three men in suits, two women wearing white, and a young woman wearing a bright-red dress with a poofy skirt. Some people thought they were watching wedding photos.
What they were seeing was a quinceañera — a longstanding tradition for Catholic Latino girls who turn 15. In recent years, the practice has expanded to Protestant and even non-religious families.
“A quinceañera is a right of passage. A kind of a coming out party. The parents are presenting their quinceañera (girl), quinceañero (boy) to the community,” said Holland native Angie Sackett, while watching her 15-year-old twins, Zenaida and Kobe, listening to a photographer’s instructions for posing for their official photos, then joined in for photos with the whole family: Angie and her husband, Richie Sackett Jr., and older children Richie Sackett III, and Sadina Sackett.
The Sacketts had started planning Zenaida’s quinceañera, which included Kobe significantly. But at some point, Angie Sackett said, it made sense for Kobe to have his own quinceañero.
Beyond the celebration of a birthday and marking the start of a teen’s transistion to adulthood, quinceañera/o is a time to make a statement of faith — which could be compared to the Roman Catholic rite of confirmation. But the Sacketts are Protestants.
“They hactually have a profession of faith. They give a speech and re-affirm their commitment to God, their family, their faith and their community,” Angie Sackett said.
Zenaida — who’s named for her aunt and grandmother — said she didn’t mind sharing the celebration equally with her twin brother. Her brother Kobe said he was honored to be included.
