A traditional quinceañera candle ceremony may arrange 15 candles for the celebrant’s fifteenth birthday.
The candles can symbolize the celebrant’s first 15 years of life. In some versions, she lights candles herself; in others, she gives them to or dedicates them to important people, such as parents, relatives, or friends.
This ritual is often called the ceremony of the 15 candles. Its meaning and sequence are not universal, so families may adapt it or omit it entirely.
The candle ritual should not be confused with the birthday cake itself. A quinceañera may include both a cake and a separate set of symbolic candles, depending on local and family practice.