In a quinceañera, what Spanish term names the celebrant’s formal thanksgiving Mass?

In a quinceañera, the celebrant’s formal thanksgiving Mass is called a misa de acción de gracias.

The phrase literally means “Mass of thanksgiving.” In Catholic quinceañera customs, the young woman and her family may attend this service before the reception. The Mass gives the celebration a religious setting and offers prayers of gratitude, guidance, and blessing.

A quinceañera is not itself a sacrament, and the Mass is not required for every celebration. Families may instead hold a civil ceremony, a prayer service, or only a reception, depending on their beliefs and circumstances.

The service is sometimes confused with a wedding because both can involve formal clothing, attendants, music, and a church setting. A quinceañera, however, celebrates a fifteenth birthday and a transition in social life rather than a marriage.