The traditional ceremonial item symbolizing childhood is the last doll.
The last doll is presented to the quinceañera as a symbolic reminder of childhood at the moment she is entering a new stage of life. In some celebrations, the celebrant receives the doll from her father or another family member, although the precise presentation varies.
The custom is part of a larger set of symbolic rituals. Other celebrations may include a change from flat shoes to high heels, a tiara, a bouquet, or the presentation of a Bible or rosary. No single collection of rituals is mandatory for every quinceañera.
The doll is not literally meant to mark the end of play or childhood interests. It is a ceremonial object whose meaning is shaped by family tradition. Modern celebrations may reinterpret or omit it, especially when families prefer a secular or personalized event.