When Childhood Hardships Rob National Traditions: A Closer Look at Colombia’s Quinceañera Crisis

Every American who values family tradition and the rites of passage that bind communities should ask: what happens when a nation’s most cherished cultural milestones become luxuries reserved for the privileged few? In Bogotá, Colombia, 29 grandmothers aged 60 to 85 recently celebrated their belated quinceañeras — the traditional Latin American celebration marking a girl's passage into adulthood at age 15. These women, many of whom spent their youth in poverty and hardship, never had that chance.What Does It Mean When Marginalized Women Miss the Milestones?The quinceañera is not just a party; it is a symbol of national identity and...