In a quinceañera, what religious service may precede the main celebration?

In a quinceañera, a Catholic Mass may precede the main celebration.

This service is commonly called a misa de acción de gracias, or Thanksgiving Mass. When a family includes it, the honoree and relatives may gather at a church before attending the reception. The service can include prayers, blessings, Scripture readings, and symbolic presentations.

The religious component is not mandatory for every quinceañera. The tradition is practiced by people with different levels of religious observance, and many families hold only a secular party. Catholic elements are especially visible because quinceañeras developed strongly in predominantly Catholic Latin American societies.

A quinceañera Mass should not be confused with a wedding. It does not create a marriage, and the honoree is not receiving a sacrament equivalent to matrimony. Its purpose is generally thanksgiving and blessing as the young person reaches a culturally important birthday.