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This celebration of a girl's 15th birthday (the name comes from Quince Años, meaning "15 years") is the equivalent in Latino culture to the Sweet Sixteen party and "coming out" party combined.

The Quinceañera celebrates a young woman's transition to adulthood and, depending on her family's country of origin, can include special music, a choreographed dance with her father, a "last doll" ceremony, and crowning by an older female relative such as a grandmother.

There is almost always music, a fabulous dress or ball gown, and a big festive meal for family and friends. She may have a "court" as in a wedding, and the dance is often marked by a ceremony in which the girl changes...

This celebration of a girl's 15th birthday (the name comes from Quince Años, meaning "15 years") is the equivalent in Latino culture to the Sweet Sixteen party and "coming out" party combined.

The Quinceañera celebrates a young woman's transition to adulthood and, depending on her family's country of origin, can include special music, a choreographed dance with her father, a "last doll" ceremony, and crowning by an older female relative such as a grandmother.

There is almost always music, a fabulous dress or ball gown, and a big festive meal for family and friends. She may have a "court" as in a wedding, and the dance is often marked by a ceremony in which the girl changes from flat shoes to high heels to mark her new womanhood. If the family is active in the Catholic Church, it may include a religious component as well.

The main issue for families is the same one that arises with bat/bar mitzvahs, Sweet Sixteen parties, and other big coming-of-age events: Creating a festive occasion that meets everyone's expectations without breaking the bank or causing too much generational conflict.

The best way to handle this is to have the teen involved in all aspects of planning and budgeting for the Quinceañera, says Susan Beacham, financial literacy expert and CEO and co-founder of Money Savvy Generation, a nonprofit that makes products to teach kids personal finance.

"As parents, we want to give our children everything, and we have to keep in mind that the way to make sure they will be truly happy is to teach them to fish, not just give them fish whenever they want it," she says.

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