A last doll is a ceremonial object often presented to a quinceañera to represent childhood.
The tradition is commonly called the “last doll” ceremony because the doll symbolizes the end of the honoree’s childhood and the transition toward young womanhood. In some celebrations, a younger sibling or relative receives the doll afterward, turning the presentation into a symbolic passing-on of childhood.
The object may be a traditional doll, a decorative figure, or a personalized keepsake. Details differ across families and regions, and many modern quinceañeras do not include the custom.
The last doll is separate from the shoe-changing ceremony, in which flat shoes may be replaced with high heels. Both rituals express transition, but they use different symbols.