In a quinceañera, the traditional group of attendants is called the court of honor.
A court of honor commonly includes the quinceañera’s friends, relatives, or siblings. Girls in the court may be called damas, while boys may be called chambelanes, escortes, or other regional terms. The group can accompany the celebrant during her entrance, participate in a choreographed dance, and stand with her for photographs.
The size and composition of the court are not fixed. Some celebrations use a large court, while others have only a few attendants or none at all. Modern quinceañeras may also choose attendants without dividing them by gender.
The court of honor is sometimes mistaken for a wedding party because its members may wear coordinated formal clothing and perform a coordinated dance. Its purpose, however, is connected to the quinceañera celebration rather than a marriage ceremony. Terminology and customs differ across Latin America, the United States, and individual families.