What a lovely image you have here. I'm pleased to have the chance to look at it more carefully.
It's nicely balanced in the frame and the confetti-like dots of color in the background not only tie the image together, but add a good deal of sparkle to the composition. I like the lighting very much. YOu created a bit more mystery by leaving the base of the candles to the imagination.
It may be that people were expecting more merchandising in the Holiday Catalog theme, and while this is a lovely image it doesn't sell anything.
Nevertheless, it's a good photograph and one I hope you enjoy.
Nice with the blurred lights in the background. Simple, vivid and I like the black background. If it were perfect, the flames would be straight up but that's just nit picking.