Sloane Avery & Harper Leigh
WHAT IS A FESTA DE QUINZE AÑOS?
Our family celebrates the Festa as a coming-of-age ceremony to celebrate the transition from childhood to young adulthood. The Quinze, as the 15-year old candidate is called, carries 247 years of recorded stories and traditions in our family. Our Assumpḉao, Barros, Byrd, Coleman, DaSilva, de Burgo, Gonḉalves, Jefferson, Leonor, Lomba, Martin, McCoy, Monteiro, Newsome, Pina, Stebbins, and Washington ancestors date back to the 1780s and hail from the Cape Verde Islands, Mali, Portugal, Senegal, and Spain.
Historically our family would host a party to attract fellow nobles into a strategic marriage. We embrace a more modern approach and host this Festa de Quinze Años to simply celebrate the twins simply being amazing humans.
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We also welcome newer traditions that pay homage to our African-American and Southwestern America roots. Join us in a celebration of love and thanks for fifteen years of faith, accomplishments, advocacy, perseverance, and love.
As is tradition, our Quinze must complete all Catholic Sacraments of Initiation into our Catholic faith. We were honored that Retired Auxiliary Bishop Roy E. Campbell Jr., performed the twins’ Sacrament of Confirmation on April 28, 2026.
SERVICE
In addition, our family Quinze candidates must complete a year of service, personal growth exploration preceding the year of their 15th birthday.
Their year of services included interviewing Dr. Perotti, an ocean acidification scientist at the National Oceanic at Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), protesting the unjust treatment of vulnerable populations, advocating for social justice, volunteering for over 50 hours including that the St. Martin of Tours Food Pantry, 15+ miles of swimming for heart and lung health, and visiting Catholic shrine and relic sites such as Notre Dame and Saint Chappelle in Paris, St. Giles in Edinburgh, and Westminster Abbey in London.
TRADITIONS
Placement of the bouquet to our Mother Mary during the Presentation to signify deep thanks for her grace and protection through the Quinze’s 15 years.
· The presentation of a new Catholic rosary and heirloom jewelry worthy of newly acquired young adult status.
· The placing of a crown signifying the transition to young adult status.
· The Mirror Dance: The Quinze’s last dance as a youth mirrored by a representative of her younger self. The twins have chosen their younger sister, nine-year-old Ellis-Marie Pascal Thea Coleman Jefferson to serve as their sole dama in a symbolic performance.
· Changing of the Shoes: The parents and padrinos gift the Quinze with her first pair of young adult shoes. Traditionally these are high heels or stilettos, but the twins have more interest in expanding their collection of authentic New Mexican boots. Look at these young adults telling us what they want!