In traditional anglo-american culture, the celebrated birthday for girls is “sweet sixteen;” In Mexico and some Latin America, it's the the girl's fifteenth birthday that garners all the attention, and symbolizes her moving into womanhood.
According to David Stubbs, director and general manager of the newly launched Quinceanera Elegante catalog, there are approximately 400,000 Hispanic girls turning fifteen every year. Oftentimes, this celebration is a very high-budget affair, with scores of guests giving lavish gifts to the girl of honor. He estimates Quinceanera spending to measure around $300 million annually.
The Quinceanera Elegante catalog will also be available online at quinceaneraelegante.com.