What is a Sweet 16 & a Quinceañera?

Sweet Sixteen Birthday Party Overview. A party to mark a teenage girl's passage to early adulthood is called a Sweet Sixteen. In some areas, a more formal event is held to welcome the girl into another stage of maturity in her life and the society. It is also often referred to as a "coming out" ceremony.  Quinceañera is the Spanish word for a girl who is 15 years old. Among Latinos in the United States, quinceañera also is the name given to the coming-of-age celebration on a girl's 15th birthday. The quinceañera has its origins many centuries ago when both boys and girls participated in rites of passage. Jc Fine Photography