The History of Candles and Their Many Uses

The history of candles goes back thousands of years. They were used to light the way of our ancestors, they were used in rituals, exorcisms and to even find treasures. However, where candles came from is a mystery. One of the earliest mentions of candles in history is in Egypt as early as 3000 BC where It is said that beeswax candles were used.

Early Egyptians also used taper candles, made of rushes and covered with tallow to help keep their shape, to perform a ritual whereby they used their dreams to seek answers. This was called "Dreaming True".

To do this, an individual sat in a dark cave and stared into a flame, facing the south. After he reached a state whereby he saw whatever God he was seeking, he would retire, confident that that God would appear to him in his dreams and the answers he sought would then be answered.

Ancient tribes also found that meditation and even precognition could be achieved by using candles to enter an altered state of consciousness. By concentrating on the flames, they could see mysterious things, talk to Gods or talk to the spirits of their loved ones who have passed on.

The history of candles in the Church is a long one. Because candles were used by the pagans in their rituals, the Roman Catholic Church looked down on their use. However, by the fourth century, the use of candles and lamps in Christian rituals had become commonplace.

The use of candles on the alter was not allowed until the late Middle Ages when the Catholic Church decided that using consecrated holy candles would be useful in blessings, in the absolution of sins or the exorcism demons.

Candles were often used during the witch-hunts of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance by townspeople to protect themselves and their livestock from being injured or taken by witches.

It was a common belief that witches used candles in history to put curses on people. An English work, Dives and Pauper (1536) reveals, "it hath oft been known that witches, with saying of the Paternoster and dropping of the holy candle in a man's steps that they hated, hath done his feet rotten of."

Candles made from the fat of humans were believed to contain the life energy of the owner. This made these candles perfect for use in Black Magick rituals.

Treasure seekers of the 17th amd 17th centuries used what was called a "Magic Candle", made of human tallow, to find buried treasure. It, along with a lantern with a consecrated candle in it, would then conjure the spirits of the guardians of the treasure.

There is a history of candles being used in an old Jewish custom of lighting candles for the dying so as to stave off demons. Also, the keeping of a candle lit for a week in the room where a person died is said to purify the air.

American superstition also says that keeping a candle burning in an empty room will result in the death of a relative. A candle that is dying out means someone in the house is about to die, and if a candle has a blue flame, it means that there is a ghost nearby.

The history of candles being used in rituals and superstitions has given rise to Wiccans, Pagans, Christians and even Atheists viewing candles as having seemingly mystical qualities.