Padrino commonly describes a male sponsor or godfather at a quinceañera.
In Spanish, padrino can mean godfather or male sponsor. Within quinceañera traditions, a padrino may support the family financially, help provide ceremonial items, or participate in religious and family observances. The exact role depends on the country, family, and type of celebration.
A padrino is distinct from the quinceañero or quinceañera, the person whose fifteenth birthday is being celebrated. He is also distinct from a chambelán, a male attendant or escort who may belong to the formal court.
Some celebrations have both padrinos and madrinas, while others do not use formal sponsors at all. Descriptions of quinceañera customs should therefore distinguish common vocabulary from requirements. Padrino is a widely recognized term, but no single sponsor arrangement applies to every family.