Quinceaneras Gallery In her dream-come-true 15th birthday party, a girl wears a flowing dress and is attended by a court that presents her with gifts. For many Latina girls, it's more than a fantasy. The coming-of-age affair can be as lavish as any wedding. It usually begins with a Catholic Mass, followed by a reception in which the girl dances a waltz with her father and performs a dance with her court. The Quinceanera derives from Aztec and Catholic traditions and has been celebrated for centuries. With 35 million Latinos in the U.S., the celebrations are becoming commercial and mainstream. Courts are usually multicultural, with friends who are not Latina included. Some educators think parents should put more emphasis on high school graduation and less on opulent revelry. But for most participants, it means more than a beautiful party. They say it's an opportunity to express their maturity and be thankful for their parents and their lives.