What is a boy’s traditional 15th-birthday celebration sometimes called?

A boy’s traditional 15th-birthday celebration is sometimes called a quinceañero.

Quinceañero is the masculine counterpart to quinceañera. The word can describe the male celebrant and, in some communities, the celebration held for him. The practice is less widespread and less standardized than the quinceañera tradition for girls.

Spanish-language usage differs by region. Some families use quinceañero for a boy’s event, while others use quince años or simply describe the occasion as a fifteenth birthday. Because traditions are local, there is no single format that applies everywhere.

A quinceañero may include formal clothing, family ceremonies, a meal, music, or dancing, but none of those elements is mandatory. The term should not be confused with chambelán, which commonly refers to a male attendant in a quinceañera court rather than the birthday celebrant.