The formal celebration of a girl’s fifteenth birthday is called a quinceañera. The term comes from Spanish quince, meaning fifteen, and is used for the event as well as, sometimes, the young woman being honored.
A quinceañera usually brings together family and friends for a ceremony and reception. Depending on the community, it can include a church Mass, a blessing, a formal entrance, a waltz, speeches, symbolic gifts, and a meal or dance. The celebration’s exact format is not universal.
The word is also written quince años in some contexts, particularly when referring to the fifteenth birthday itself. English-language usage often keeps the Spanish word quinceañera, including its ñ. It should not be confused with primera comunión, which is a First Communion and is a separate religious milestone.