What is the male celebrant traditionally called when marking his 15th birthday in Latin American communities?

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A male celebrant marking his 15th birthday is traditionally called a quinceañero.

The term is the masculine counterpart of quinceañera and refers to the young man whose fifteenth birthday is being celebrated. In many communities, quinceañero celebrations are less widespread than quinceañeras, but the vocabulary exists in Spanish and is used for male honorees.

A quinceañero should not be confused with a chambelán. A chambelán is traditionally a male member of the honoree’s court or an escort in the ceremonial group. He is not necessarily the birthday celebrant.

Terminology can vary by country and family. Some families use fiesta de quince años or a more general birthday-party description regardless of the honoree’s gender, while others retain the masculine quinceañero.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Oct. 2026

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