What formal church service may precede a traditional quinceañera celebration?

A Catholic Mass may precede a traditional quinceañera celebration.

This service is often called a thanksgiving Mass because the family gives thanks for the honoree’s life and milestone. During the service, the quinceañera may wear her formal dress and be accompanied by parents, relatives, and attendants.

The religious ceremony reflects the strong Catholic influence found in many Latin American communities, but it is not a universal requirement. Some families hold a secular celebration, and others belong to different faiths or choose not to include a church service.

A quinceañera Mass is also different from a wedding. The honoree is not being married, and the ceremony does not create a marital status. The celebration traditionally marks a birthday and a symbolic transition, although contemporary families interpret that transition in varied ways.