Quinceañeras have been a custom among Latinos since pre-Columbian days, when indigenous tribes in South America inducted young women into the community on their 15th birthdays. Over time, this rite of passage has evolved into the kind of lavish ceremony one might associate with a debutante ball.

The Roman Catholic Church has recently taken steps to institutionalize the ceremony by introducing a prayer book especially for quinceañeras. The “Order for the Blessing on the Fifteenth Birthday,” available in English and Spanish, is a collection of prayers and benedictions specifically designed to “honor the Latino cultural heritage” and “encourage young women to renew their baptismal commitment,” according to the book, published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.