What is the Quinceañera as noted in the book, Miami?

The quinceañera is discussed in two dimensions in this book. First, as a special birthday party thrown for Cuban girls who come of age in the city, the party and its flamboyant nature are symbols of Cuban culture's survival in America and the perpetuation of important cultural traditions in the face of foreign environments and milieus. Secondly, as an extremely extravagant expense faced willingly by Cuban parents, the quinceañera also highlights the flashy opulence of Miami events and the Cuban influence behind it. Strangers to the city, like Didion once was, cannot help but be struck by the flashy nature of the quinceañera and the widespread practice of such a costly event.