in both a quinceniera and a sweet 16 it is to celebrate the change of a girl to her womenhood as she becomes older.They both include a party and dancing.Although they are similar in those ways in a quinecera it is celebrated when the girl turns 15 rather than a sweet 16 when they are 16.In a quincenera a religous ceremony occurs where there are many family members.Quineceras are also mostly of hispanic culture rather than anyother.Sweet 16s occur mainly in the american cultures and may be no religous event.
