What is the Spanish term for a boy’s traditional 15th-birthday celebration?

The Spanish term for a boy’s traditional 15th-birthday celebration is quinceañero.

Quinceañero is the masculine counterpart to quinceañera. Both words are connected to quince, the Spanish word for fifteen, and to the broader custom of marking a fifteenth birthday with a formal celebration. In English-language writing, quinceañera is far more common because the tradition has historically centered on girls.

A quinceañero celebration can borrow many features associated with a quinceañera, including formal clothing, a planned reception, music, dancing, family speeches, and religious elements. The exact program is determined by the family rather than by one universal rule. Some celebrations emphasize cultural identity, while others are primarily family parties.

The term should not be confused with chambelán, which traditionally identifies a male member of a celebrant’s court. A quinceañero is the celebrant himself, not an attendant. Usage also varies regionally, so families may use different names for comparable birthday traditions.