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In today’s Christmas ceremonies, candles can be found everywhere from the carolers who walk around and sing to us to many of the beautiful greeting cards we send to our friends and loved ones. Candles are a part of almost every culture’s Christmas.
In the sixteenth century candles were placed on evergreen trees to remind children of the heavens from which Christ descended. Our ancestors held winter festivities to signal the return of the sunlight, warmth and fertility with candles. Candles signified life, the living flame, and the renewal of life. Many of today’s religions use candles to symbolize the rebirth of the sun’s life giving energy.
Candles have been around for centuries and no one really knows who actually invented the candle. But, we do know that candles where replaced by oil lamps and that they were used by prehistoric people to make wall paintings deep inside caves.
Candles were used on Christmas trees for many years until the risk of deadly blazes became very apparent and when electricity became available for all. The use of candles can be traced back to Germany, like so many Christmas traditions. In Germany, the season begins with the start of Advent, four Sundays before Christmas Day. This time period is marked by what is known as the Advent wreath. This wreath consists of a circle of evergreen branches and the evergreen branches are holding four candles. The wreath holds three purple candles and one pink candle. At the end of each week a candle is lit, this signifies the coming of Christmas Day.
The candle continues to play an important role in many seasonal celebrations. In China, Christians celebrate by using paper lanterns to turn Christmas trees into trees of light. In parts of India, clay oil-burning lamps are used. In Sweden, many believers participate in what is known as Lucia. This is a celebration in which they give thanks to the Queen of Light for bringing hope during the darkest time of the year.
In today’s society Christians light candles at Christmas as a symbol of the birth of Christ, and his renewing light force that guides his followers along the righteous path that has been chosen by them. This tradition was taken from the German tradition of lighting candles in the windows and lighting candles on the Christmas tree. The German tradition was to light a candle and place it in the window or on a tree to light the way for the Holy Family on their way to Bethlehem. Today, this still ensures a year of light, warmth and good tidings for the whole family.
Candles are used in non-religious holidays also. In the non-religious holiday of Kwanzaa, a candleholder called a Kinara is used; this was introduced after the Watts riots in the 1960’s. The use of candles can also be found in the Jewish holiday Hanukkah. This is the Jewish festival of lights celebrating the victory of Judas Maccabees over the Syrian tyrant Antiochus more than two thousand years ago.
Whether it is a religious holiday or a non-religious holiday the candle honors the cycles that turns within us representing light and dark.
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