The male members of a quinceañera’s ceremonial court are called chambelanes.
A chambelán is traditionally a young man who accompanies the honoree during formal parts of the celebration. The plural form, chambelanes, describes the group. Depending on the family’s customs, these attendants may participate in the entrance, formal presentation, choreographed dances, photographs, and other ceremonial moments.
The court can also include damas, or female attendants. Its size and composition are not fixed worldwide. Some celebrations use a large court, while others include only a few friends or no formal court at all. Contemporary families often adapt the tradition to reflect their relationships and preferences.
Chambelán is sometimes confused with quinceañero. A quinceañero is the male honoree of a fifteenth-birthday celebration; a chambelán is an attendant. Padrinos, meanwhile, are sponsors or godparents who may help support the celebration and its religious or practical arrangements.