What is a quinceañera’s formal religious service often called?

A quinceañera’s formal religious service is often called a misa de acción de gracias.

This Spanish phrase means “Mass of thanksgiving.” In Catholic families, the service gives thanks for the young woman’s life and asks for guidance and blessings as she enters a new stage. It may take place before the reception, although arrangements differ by parish and family.

The ceremony is not mandatory for every quinceañera. Some celebrations are secular, while others include a church service, a private blessing, or another religious observance. The reception and the religious service are therefore related parts of the tradition, not interchangeable terms.

Misa de Navidad means Christmas Mass, and misa de difuntos refers to a Mass for the dead. Boda civil means a civil wedding, which is a legally different event. The thanksgiving Mass is also not itself a wedding, even though some formal clothing and processional elements can look similar.