What Catholic service is commonly held for a quinceañera as a thanksgiving for the celebrant’s 15th birthday?

A quinceañera’s Catholic thanksgiving service is commonly called a Misa de acción de gracias.

The Spanish phrase means “Mass of thanksgiving.” In communities where the celebration includes Catholic observance, the young woman and her family may attend this service before the reception. The Mass gives the birthday milestone a religious setting and may include blessings, prayers, Scripture readings, and participation by the court of honor.

The service is not identical to a sacrament such as baptism, confirmation, or marriage. A quinceañera is a cultural celebration rather than a sacrament, and practices differ by family, parish, country, and denomination. Some families hold a church service, while others celebrate only with a reception or another ceremony.

The reception commonly follows the service and may include formal entrance, a waltz, speeches, dinner, and symbolic traditions. The related phrase “misa de quince años” is also used in some Spanish-speaking communities, but Misa de acción de gracias specifically describes the thanksgiving character.