The celebration of a girl's 15th birthday is commonly called a quinceañera.
The term comes from quince, meaning “fifteen,” and the feminine ending -añera. In everyday usage, quinceañera can describe both the honoree and the event. Other names include quince años, fiesta de quince años, and simply quince.
The word is widely used in Spanish-speaking communities, but the event is not governed by one universal script. A family may include a church service, a ceremonial entrance, a court of honor, a waltz, speeches, dinner, and a dance reception. Customs differ by country, region, religion, and family.
A common mix-up is treating quinceañera as the name of a particular dance or dress. It actually has a broader meaning. The dress, dances, attendants, and religious elements are parts of the celebration rather than definitions of the word itself.