A quinceañera traditionally marks a girl’s fifteenth birthday.
The word comes from quince, meaning “fifteen,” and añera, related to years. In English, quinceañera can mean either the young woman celebrating or the celebration itself. The event is also commonly called a fiesta de quince años, meaning “fifteen-years party.”
The celebration generally combines a birthday party with a symbolic transition from childhood toward young womanhood. Customs vary widely by country, family, religion, and community. Some celebrations include a church service, a formal entrance, a court of attendants, special dances, and ceremonial gifts.
A quinceañera is not a legal change of status. The fifteenth birthday is culturally significant, but it does not universally correspond to a specific legal adulthood age. Modern celebrations may also be adapted for different identities, family traditions, and levels of religious involvement.