A quinceañera’s “ceremony of the 15 candles” traditionally uses 15 candles.
The candles correspond to the celebrant’s fifteenth birthday and may be presented to important people in her life, such as parents, grandparents, siblings, or close friends. The exact order and wording of the ceremony vary by family and region.
This candle ritual is separate from the religious service that some families hold before the reception. It is also distinct from the symbolic changing of shoes and the presentation of a last doll, customs that may appear in the same celebration.
Not every quinceañera includes all traditional elements. Modern celebrations often adapt the candle ceremony, including who receives a candle and whether the honorees are named publicly.