In a traditional quinceañera, what group accompanies the celebrant as her attendants?

In a traditional quinceañera, the celebrant may be accompanied by a court of honor.

The court commonly consists of friends and relatives selected by the quinceañera and her family. Depending on local custom, it may include young women called damas, young men called chambelanes, or attendants of another gender arrangement. The group can participate in the entrance, formal photographs, and choreographed dances.

A court of honor is not mandatory. Contemporary celebrations often reduce its size, replace it with close friends, or omit it entirely. The number of attendants has no universal standard, so a small court and a large court can both be traditional in their own communities.

The phrase can sound similar to wedding terminology, but a quinceañera court is not a bridal party. The event celebrates a fifteenth birthday and cultural transition, not a marriage. Clothing colors and dance roles also differ from one family and region to another.