Padrinos traditionally names the adults who sponsor a quinceañera’s celebration.
The word padrinos means godparents or sponsors in Spanish. In quinceañera customs, padrinos may help pay for particular parts of the event, provide gifts, or support the honoree and her family. Their role can resemble the sponsorship found in other Catholic and Latin American rites.
Padrinos are different from the young attendants who participate in the court. Attendants may be called damas or chambelanes, whereas padrinos are generally adults selected for their closeness to the family or their standing in the community.
The exact responsibilities are not fixed worldwide. Some families assign sponsors for the dress, cake, music, or religious items; others use the term more generally for honored supporters. Modern celebrations may omit padrinos entirely.