Quinceañera is the Spanish word for both the fifteen-year-old celebrant and her traditional birthday celebration.
The term comes from quince, meaning “fifteen,” and the feminine ending -añera, which relates to years or age. In everyday English, quinceañera commonly refers to the entire event, while Spanish usage can also identify the young woman who is being honored.
The celebration’s name does not describe one single standardized ceremony. A family may hold a Mass, a civil ceremony, a banquet, a dance reception, or a combination of these. Clothing, music, attendants, food, and religious elements differ across Mexico, Central America, South America, the Caribbean, Spain-connected communities, and the diaspora.
The word is sometimes written without the ñ as quinceanera in English-language text, but quinceañera preserves the original Spanish spelling. The related term quince años literally means “fifteen years” and is also used for the celebration in parts of Latin America.