The Spanish word padrinos describes the sponsors or godparents who may support a quinceañera.
Padrino means godfather or male sponsor, and padrina or madrina refers to a female sponsor; padrinos can also be used for a sponsoring couple or group. They may help with ceremonial items, expenses, advice, or participation in the religious service, depending on family custom.
Their role is separate from that of the court. Damas and chambelanes are attendants who often appear in the formal procession or dances. Padrinos are connected with sponsorship and support, although the exact responsibilities differ between families and regions.
A quinceañera may have several sponsors, each associated with a particular contribution or symbolic object. Other celebrations may have no padrinos at all. The presence, number, and duties of padrinos are customary rather than universal requirements of the fifteenth-birthday tradition.