In a quinceañera, what is the traditional name for the celebrant’s formal religious thanksgiving service?

The traditional religious thanksgiving service associated with a quinceañera is called a misa de acción de gracias.

The Spanish phrase means “Mass of thanksgiving.” In families that include a religious observance, the service gives thanks for the celebrant’s life and asks for guidance as she enters a new stage. It is commonly held in a Catholic church before the reception, although participation and exact customs vary widely.

A misa de acción de gracias is not the same thing as a wedding Mass, funeral Mass, or Christmas Mass. The quinceañera ceremony is a birthday and coming-of-age observance rather than a sacrament of marriage. Many modern celebrations are secular, and some families combine religious elements with a civil ceremony or a reception-only event.