What is the Catholic religious service often held before a quinceañera called?

The Catholic religious service often held before a quinceañera is called a misa de acción de gracias, or Thanksgiving Mass.

The service gives the family an opportunity to express gratitude for the celebrant’s life and to ask for guidance as she enters a new stage. In a Catholic celebration, the Mass may be followed by the reception, dinner, formal entrance, dances, and other customs.

This religious element is not required for every quinceañera. Some families hold a secular party, while others choose a different faith ceremony or no religious service. The event’s religious content therefore depends on the family and local tradition.

The phrase is sometimes shortened in English descriptions to “quinceañera Mass,” but misa de acción de gracias is the more precise Spanish name for the thanksgiving service. It should not be confused with a wedding Mass, funeral Mass, or Christmas Mass.