Candle history 4

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Candle History, cont.

Judaism

In Judaism, candles are traditionally lit on Friday evening at the start of the weekly Sabbath celebration, and Saturday night during the Havdalah ritual, which ends the Sabbath. The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is celebrated by lighting a candle in a special candelabrum each night during the eight-day holiday to commemorate the dedication of the altar in the Temple in Jerusalem. Candles are also used in remembering a deceased loved one, especially on their Yahrzeit, the anniversary of their death according to the Hebrew calendar, when a 24-hour candle is lit. Similarly, on Yom HaShoah, a day of remembrance for all those who perished in the Holocaust, candles are lit to honor the victims.

Kwanzaa

Candles are also used in celebrations of Kwanzaa, which is an African American holiday which runs from December 26 to January 1

Humanism

For Humanists, skeptics, and nontheists (and particularly secular humanists), candles have become a symbol of the light of reason or rationality. This association was inspired by Carl Sagan, who subtitled his 1997 book The Demon-Haunted World with Science as a Candle in the Dark. The Humanist festival of HumanLight often features a candle-lighting ceremony.

Wicca

In Wicca and related forms of Neopaganism, candles are frequently used on the altar to represent the presence of the God and Goddess, and in the four corners of a ritual circle to represent the presence of the four elements. When used in this manner, lighting and extinguishing the candles marks the opening and closing of the ritual. Candles are also frequently used by Wiccans and other Neopagans for magical and meditative purposes.

Conclusion

Candles enjoy a continuing popularity. Although no longer man's major source of light, they serve other functions in our everyday life from celebration, creating a romantic and soothing ambience, calming and de-stressing the senses, to celebrate religious ceremony and ritual, to aromatherapy sessions, and to decorate our homes — casting a warm and lovely glow for all to enjoy. They also continue to be big business.

Candle sales in the U.S. are estimated at $2.3 billion annually.
There are more than 350 commercial, religious and institutional candle manufacturers in the U.S., as well as scores of small craft producers for local, non-commercial use.
Typically, a major U.S. candle manufacturer offers 1,000 to 2,000 varieties of candles in its product line.
Candle sales have grown 10 to 15 percent per year in the last decade,
fueled by consumer interest in aromatherapy and increased demand for home fragrance products.

So whether you are using a candle when the electricity goes out during a storm, for a romantic dinner, or to just soothe your soul, enjoy and know that you are part of a centuries old tradition.

Sources:

Candlewealth, "The Evolution of Candles" , 2006.

National Candle Association, "History of Candles" , 2006.

Wikipedia Encyclopedia, 2006.

Cunningham, Scott, Wicca, A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner, Llewellyn Publications, Woodbury MN, 2005.

Seymour, John, The Forgotten Arts & Crafts; Skills from Bygone Days, Dorling Kindersley New York, NY, 2001; page 310-312.

Starhawk, Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess, Harper, San Francisco, CA, 1999.

Warda, Rosevita, Aromatic Candles, Sterling Publishing, New York, NY, 2001.