A traditional quinceañera celebration is held when a girl turns 15.
The Spanish word quinceañera refers both to the celebrant and, commonly, to the birthday celebration marking her fifteenth year. In many Latin American and Latino communities, the event represents a transition from childhood toward young womanhood. The format varies greatly by family, country, religion, and budget.
A quinceañera may include a religious service, a formal reception, special clothing, music, dancing, and a court of attendants. Some families hold a large banquet, while others choose a small gathering or no formal celebration. The age 15 is the defining feature, although the exact customs are not universal.
The celebration is sometimes compared with other coming-of-age traditions, but it is not identical everywhere. A quinceañera can be Catholic, secular, or adapted to another Christian or family tradition. In some communities, boys also have related fifteenth-birthday celebrations, sometimes called quinceañero events.