Home > Candle
:This article is on the source of light. For other meanings see Candle (disambiguation)
A candle is a light source usually consisting of an internal wick which rises through the center of a column of solid fuel. Typically the fuel is a form of wax with paraffin wax being the most common.
1 Usage
Prior to the domestication of electricity, candles were a common source of lighting, before, and later in addition to, the oil lamp. Due to local availability and the cost of resources, for several centuries up to the 19th century candles were more common in northern Europe, and olive oil lamps more common in southern Europe and around the Mediterranean Sea. Makers of candles were known as chandlers.
Today, candles are usually used for their aesthetic value, particularly to set a soft, warm, or romantic ambience, and for emergency lighting during electrical power failures. Scented candles are common in aromatherapy.
1.1 Religion
Candles are used in religiousReligion sometimes used interchangeably with faith, is commonly defined as belief concerning the supernatural, sacred, or divine, and the practices and institutions associated with such belief. Borobudur, a Buddhist stupa built between 750 and 850 Adriaen ceremonies. In ChristianityChristian cross and its many variations are widely recognized as an ancient Christian symbol. Christianity is an Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as described in the New Testament. Although Christians generally chara, they typically represent the light of Jesus Christ. In JudaismJudaism is the religion and culture of the Jewish people and the first recorded monotheistic faith. The tenets and history of Judaism constitute the historical foundation of many other religions, including Christianity and Islam. Star of David, a common s, candles are traditionally lit on Friday evening at the start of the weekly SabbathShabbat or Shabbos ( Ashkenazic pronunciation) ( shabb rest), is a day of rest that is observed once a week, on Saturday, by practitioners of Judaism, as well as by many secular Jews. Etymology The Hebrew word Shabbat comes from the Hebrew verb shabat whi celebration. The JewThe word Jew is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to either a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or a member of the Jewish culture or ethnicity. This article discusses the term as describing an ethnic group; for aish holidayA holiday is day set aside by a nation or culture (in some cases, multiple nations and cultures) typically for celebration but sometimes for some other kind of special culture-wide (or national) observation or activity. Based on the English words holy and of Chanukah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is celebrated by lighting a candle in a special candelabrum ( menorah) each night during the eight-day holiday to commemorate the dedication of the altar in the Temple in Jerusalem.
Candles were traditionally used to light up Christmas trees before the advent of electric lights. They are still, even today, commonly used to decorate Christmas trees in Denmark. Candles are also used in celebrations of Kwanzaa, which is an African American holiday which runs from December 26 to January 1.
In Sweden (and other Scandinavian countries), St. Lucia Day is celebrated on December 13 with the crowning of a young girl with a ring of candles.
