Misa de Acción de Gracias translates as “Thanksgiving Mass.”
The phrase is used for a Catholic service in which a quinceañera and her family give thanks for her life and milestone. Misa means “Mass,” acción means “action,” and gracias means “thanks,” producing the established translation “Thanksgiving Mass.”
This service may take place before the reception and can include family participation, prayers, readings, and a blessing. Practices differ among parishes and communities, so a quinceañera does not automatically include this Mass. Some families choose a secular ceremony or another form of religious observance.
Thanksgiving Mass in this context is not the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday and is not a separate Catholic sacrament. It is a descriptive name for the worship service associated with the celebration. The quinceañera tradition itself is cultural and can be observed by families with different religious backgrounds.