Victorian Candles

Victorian Candles

Victorian Candles

When it comes to candles and their relation to Christmas, the history goes back many centuries. The beginning of candle traditions began with the Saturnalia, a Roman festival. The guests of the festival were given wax tapers that were very long. They were offered to Saturn. They were considered symbolic of the light he gave. This is still celebrated in some areas of Sweden. Along the same lines, candles were used by Pagans to be symbolic of the sun in the midst of Yule. This was a time when new seasons are celebrated and the seasons of the past were celebrated. Christians began using candles to help the Christ Child find his way while walking through the town on Christmas Eve. There are still small towns in Europe that continue with this tradition.
Candles are very important when it comes to religious holiday traditions. Traditions like Candlemas, Chanukah, Yule and Kwanzaa use candles to celebrate. Candlemas was first created by Pagans. It was a festival to commemorate refinement. Now Christians celebrate Candlemas on the 40th day after Christmas which is February 2. Christians use it to represent the refinement Mary and Christ experienced in the temple. The Festival of Lights, or Chanukah, is a Jewish holiday. During this time, a Menorah, a candelabrum with eight branches, is lit. One candle is lit per day. Kwanzaa is an African candle tradition. There are seven candles known as mishumaa that are lit throughout the holiday season to denote the seven principles known as Nguzo Saba.
Another tradition that used candles was in the Victorian era. Candles were placed as lights on the Christmas tree. The largest candle would be placed at the top of the tree. They would use it to signify the Star of Wonder followed by the shepherds and Wise Men to find the Christ Child. Also during this era, wax tapers would be scented with pine oil. Merchants would bundle them together to give to their customers.
Those are all traditional uses of the candle in holiday traditions. Yet, there are now some more modern uses of candles that many families have created their own traditions with. Many people continue to use the scented wax just as those of the Victorian era did. Candles scented with everything from pine to gingerbread and cinnamon to a crackling fire are placed in the home to bring the scent of the holidays alive. Candles bring warmth and coziness that people desire during the holiday season as well as bring traditions alive for generations to come