The History of Candles

Monday, December 17, 2012

The History of Candles

"It is time to light the Christmas candles. Light them, you and you, and let them burn with clear joyous flame. Big candles and little, colored candles and plain, let each be blazing! The little candles must give all the light they can, and the big candles all the light they will, for there can never be too much radiance on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. Bring out the half-burned last year's candles, too, even though the memory of last year calls tears into the eyes for this is the day of such joy as shall change sorrow into peace. Bring out all the candles! The room may be bare or sumptuous. The gifts may have been chosen with painful thought and paid for with hoarded pennies; or they may have been purchased lavishly, and more from habit than from love. But never mind now: they shall all be sacred and beautiful in the gleam of the Christmas candles. Has the gospel story first been read, and, if children were not too little and too impatient, Milton's "Ode on the Nativity?" If so, then light the candles! There is no other Christmas tree quite so fine as a fir balsam, itself shaped like a tapering flame and redolent as incense. But any tree will serve, or for that matter no tree at all, for the real Christmas candles, surely, are the CANDLES IN THE HEART." Perry

In 1962, Christmas candles came in every shape and color to light your holiday home. (photos included)

1. Tall Round, 12" by Flair Candles. 2. Zarape Pillar, 6", by Clare Candles. 3. Bird in Flight, 13", by Flair. 4. Pottery Shape, 9", by Flair. 5. Party Pagoda, 7", by Flair. 6. Dinner Tapers, 15", by Paragon. 7. Party Ball, 4 1/2" diam., by Flair. 8. Giant Folding Prism, 15", by Paragon. 9. Marble Prism, 10", by Paragon 10. Flower Tapers, 15", by Paragon. 11. Vertagrain Pinnacle Prism, 10", by Paragon. 12. Chessman, 18", by Flair. 13. Rainbow Drip, 12", by Flair. 14. Royal Cierge, ribbed and plain, 14" and 10", by Bee Industries.

15. Sun, 12", by Flair. 16. Baroque, 12", by Paragon. 17. Spool, 12", by Flair. 18. Spindle, 15", by Flair. 19. Vertico Stripe Rectangles, 12" and 6", by Flair. 20. Obelisk, 15", Party Bazaar-Dennisons. 21. Left, right, Plantation, 4 3/4" and 3"; center, Cathedral, 6", by Carolina Soap and Candle Makers. 22. Glowing Prixm, 10"and 15", by Paragon. 23. Colossal Royal Queen, 20", by Bee Industries. 24. Zarape Tapers, 15", by Clare. 25. Drop, 4", imported by Svend Jensen of Denmark. 26. Square Taper, 10", imported by Svend Jenson of Denmark. 27. Classic Marble Obelisk, 15", by Paragon.

The earliest known candles originated in China around 200 BC, and were made from whale fat. Candles did not appear in Europe or the Middle East until sometime after AD 400, due largely to the availability of olive oil for burning in lamps. The early European candle was made from various forms of natural fat, tallow, and wax. In the 18th century, spermaceti, oil produced by the sperm whale, was used to produce a superior candle. Late in the 18th century, colza oil and rapeseed oil came into use as much cheaper substitutes.

Paraffin was first distilled in 1830, and revolutionized candle-making, as it was an inexpensive material which produced a high-quality, odorless candle that burned reasonably cleanly. The industry was devastated soon after, however, by the distillation of kerosene (confusingly also called paraffin oil or just paraffin). Recently resin based candles that are freestanding and transparent have been developed, with the claim that they burn longer than traditional paraffin candles. They are usually scented and oil based.

In the Middle Ages in Europe, tallow candles were the most common candle. By the 13th century, candle making had become a guild craft in England and France. The candle makers (chandlers) went from house to house making candles from the kitchen fats saved for that purpose, or made and sold their own candles from small candle shops.

Before the invention of electric lighting, candles and oil lamps were commonly used for illumination. In areas without electricity, they are still used routinely. Until the 20th century, candles were more common in northern Europe. In southern Europe and the Mediterranean, oil lamps predominated. In the developed world today, candles are used mainly for their aesthetic value and scent, particularly to set a soft, warm, or romantic ambiance, for emergency lighting during electrical power failures, and for religious or ritual purposes. Scented candles are used in aromatherapy.