Quinceanera and gown shopping in El Paso!

Keeping on this week's theme of things to do and see in El Paso---Our region has a close relationship with Mexico, and few cities in the country have a closer one than El Paso.  Just a few blocks from the border in downtown El Paso, it is possible to buy quinceanera gowns worn to celebrate a young Hispanic girl's 15th birthday.  There's a great Q&A about quinceaneras here, a celebration of passage from young girlhood to adulthood.

Here's a quote from the Q&A at this link:  "In the presence of family and friends, the young woman (the quinceañera), often accompanied by fifteen young men and women of her choice, (damas y chambelanes), enters the Church in procession, together with her parents and godparents. If she has prepared the readings, she may serve as the lector for at least one of the readings. After the Liturgy of the Word, the quinceañera makes a commitment to God and the Blessed Virgin to live out the rest of her life according to the teachings of Christ and the Church by renewing her Baptismal promises. Then, signs of faith (medal, Bible, rosary, prayer book) which have been blessed and may be given to her. A special blessing of the quinceañera concludes the Liturgy of the Eucharist. After Mass, the young woman is presented to the community. The ritual continues with a dinner and sometimes a dance in her honor."