What is the traditional quinceañera ritual involving 15 candles called?

The traditional quinceañera ritual involving 15 candles is called the ceremony of the candles.

During the ceremony, the quinceañera may light or receive 15 candles, often dedicating each one to a person who has influenced her life. Parents, grandparents, siblings, relatives, and close friends can be recognized. Some families attach a short message or speech to each candle.

The 15 candles represent the celebrant’s fifteen years and the relationships that helped shape her. The exact wording, order, and participants differ widely. In some versions, the candles are presented during the reception; in others, the ritual is adapted to fit a religious service or family program.

The ceremony is sometimes confused with a candle used in a Christian Mass. They are related only when a family chooses to include both. The candle presentation itself is a social and symbolic quinceañera custom, not a required part of Catholic liturgy.