Candles are the central items in the quinceañera’s ceremony of 15 candles.
During this ritual, the celebrant may light candles or present them to important people in her life. The act commonly honors relatives, friends, mentors, or others who have supported her. The exact order and meaning depend on family and regional practice.
The candle ceremony should not be confused with the celebration’s religious status. A quinceañera may include Catholic elements, but the candle ritual can also appear in secular parties. Some families use symbolic candles without following a fixed script or assigning one identical meaning to every candle.