What is the usual English translation of quinceañera as a coming-of-age tradition?

The usual English translation of quinceañera as a coming-of-age tradition is “fifteenth-birthday celebration.”

The event marks a girl’s fifteenth birthday and often combines a formal ceremony with a large reception. Depending on the family, it may include religious observances, a special dress, attendants, choreographed dances, symbolic gifts, and public recognition by parents or relatives.

Calling it a fifteenth-birthday celebration is more precise than translating it simply as “party.” A quinceañera can be elaborate and ceremonial, with customs that express family identity, faith, and community ties. At the same time, no single format is mandatory everywhere.

The tradition is often described in English as a coming-of-age celebration. That description explains its social meaning, but it should not be mistaken for a universal legal declaration of adulthood.