Mass often precedes the reception when a quinceañera includes a Catholic religious service. This service is commonly called a quinceañera Mass or Misa de acción de gracias, a Mass of thanksgiving.
The service gives the family an opportunity to express gratitude, pray for the honoree, and receive a blessing. The honoree may wear the formal dress used at the reception, and relatives or sponsors may take part in readings, gifts, or other local customs. The reception then continues with food, music, dancing, and symbolic presentations.
A Catholic Mass is not required for every quinceañera. Families may hold a secular celebration, use another religious tradition, or combine religious and cultural elements differently. The word Mass identifies the Catholic service specifically; it should not be treated as a universal feature of all fifteenth-birthday celebrations.