A girl traditionally celebrates a quinceañera at age fifteen.
The Spanish word quinceañera refers both to the celebrant and, commonly, to the celebration marking her fifteenth birthday. The event is a major coming-of-age milestone in many Latin American, Latino, and Hispanic communities.
The fifteenth birthday is symbolically positioned between childhood and young adulthood. Religious observances, family ceremonies, formal clothing, dancing, and a large reception may all be included, although customs differ by country, family, and religious background.
A quinceañera is not a legally defined rite of passage, and not every fifteen-year-old has one. Some families hold a smaller gathering, while others combine the birthday with a church service or a formal banquet.