The Spanish word formed from quince and años for the traditional fifteenth-birthday celebration is quinceañera.
Quinceañera literally relates to a fifteen-year-old girl or to her fifteenth-birthday celebration. In Spanish, the feminine ending reflects the traditional focus on a female celebrant. English usage often uses the same word for the event, even though Spanish-speaking communities may use additional regional expressions for the party, ceremony, or birthday.
The spelling includes ñ, the Spanish letter n with a tilde. In informal English writing, “quinceanera” without the accent mark is common, but “quinceañera” is the standard Spanish spelling. The plural is commonly written quinceañeras.
A quinceañera may include a religious service, a formal entrance, a court of honor, speeches, dancing, and a reception, but no single program applies everywhere. Practices differ according to local customs, family preferences, faith, and budget. The name identifies the tradition; it does not prescribe every element of an individual celebration.