Padrinos is the Spanish word commonly used for adult sponsors who help support a quinceañera.
The singular form is padrino for a male sponsor and madrina for a female sponsor; padrinos can refer to sponsors collectively. Depending on the family and region, they may contribute money, clothing, jewelry, decorations, photographs, food, or other parts of the celebration.
This sponsorship system reflects a broader Latin American custom in which relatives, friends, or respected community members help finance or organize important rites and family events. It can also strengthen social ties between the honoree’s household and the sponsors’ families.
The role is not identical everywhere. Some families invite many sponsors for separate items, while others pay for the event themselves or do not use padrinos at all. Padrinos are also not the same as chambelanes or damas, who are attendants in the court of honor. The words can appear together in a program, but they describe different kinds of participation.