In a traditional quinceañera, the Spanish term commonly used for female sponsors is madrinas.
Madrina is the feminine form of padrino, meaning godmother or female sponsor. In quinceañera planning, madrinas may help provide or pay for specific elements such as the dress, cake, decorations, religious items, or reception costs. The plural madrinas refers to more than one female sponsor.
These sponsors are distinct from the damas. Damas are girls or young women who belong to the celebrant’s court of honor, while madrinas are adult sponsors or supporters. A person can potentially serve in only one of these roles, or families can assign different people to each.
There is no single universal list of sponsor duties. Customs depend on country, family, denomination, and budget. Some celebrations name both padrinos and madrinas, while others use relatives and friends as informal sponsors or do not use sponsors at all. The shared idea is support for the transition being marked by the celebration.