What is the church service traditionally associated with a quinceañera called?

The church service traditionally associated with a quinceañera is called a Misa de Acción de Gracias, or Thanksgiving Mass. It is a Catholic religious service connected with the celebration in many families.

During the Mass, the quinceañera may express gratitude for her life and family and ask for continued guidance. Religious details vary according to the parish, family, and local custom; not every modern quinceañera includes a Mass.

The service is distinct from the reception that follows. A reception may feature a meal, music, a court presentation, formal dances, and symbolic rituals such as the presentation of a crown or the changing of shoes.

The Spanish phrase translates as “Mass of Thanksgiving.” It should not be confused with other Catholic services named for different occasions, including Christmas Mass, a Requiem Mass, or the Misa del Gallo associated with Christmas Eve.