The Spanish term padrinos commonly means the sponsors who help provide ceremonial items or expenses for a quinceañera. A female sponsor may be called a madrina, while a male sponsor is a padrino; together they are padrinos.
Sponsors may be relatives, family friends, or godparents. Depending on the family, they can contribute to the dress, cake, music, flowers, church costs, jewelry, or other parts of the celebration. Their exact responsibilities are negotiated locally and are not identical from one quinceañera to another.
Padrinos are sometimes confused with the court of honor. The court performs ceremonial and social roles, while padrinos provide support. The word also has broader meanings in Spanish-speaking cultures, including godparents or patrons, so its precise quinceañera role depends on context.