The History Of Candles The History Of Candles In today’s world, people often have romantic or comforting associations with candles. The intimacy of a small, warm flickering light certainly lends itself well to such atmospheres. But did you know that candles have been used by humans for at least the past 5,000 years? Through the ages, they have been made and used in many different ways and for different purposes. Keep reading to learn more about the history of candles. Early Wicked Candles Many thousands of years ago, candles were used in different forms among different cultures. The Romans would soak sheets of papyrus in liquid beeswax and wrap it around a wick. While often used in important religious rituals, these early candles also had a more utilitarian purpose and helped to provide light after dark. In China, Japan and India, wax was variously culled from whale blubber, mixtures of insects ground with certain seeds, or from botanical materials. Several Arabian cultures also made use of candles later on and that influence can still be observed today, as in the Jewish tradition of Hanukkah, and several Christian ceremonies that use lit candles. Middle Ages By the Middle Ages, the use of candles caught on in Europe and its surrounding areas. Originally they used animal fat to make candles known as tallow. Later on, the process of collecting and manipulating beeswax led to cleaner and more pleasant-smelling candles. However, beeswax was more expensive than tallow, and even as late as Victorian times, poorer people tended to use tallow instead. By the 1200s, a candle-making guild had formed in France and England to regulate this trade. While churches and well-off families enjoyed beeswax candles, the lower classes had to be content with tallow instead. Colonial Times By Colonial times, European immigrants and settlers had brought their knowledge of candles and candle making to the New World. Eventually, these new Americans found that they could extract a very pleasant-scented wax from bayberries. Since the process was very slow and time-consuming, this practice was abandoned after a while. Following in the footsteps of the ancient Chinese, Westerners of this era turned to whales for a solution. They found that by extracting and crystallizing a certain oil derived from sperm whales (known as spermaceti), they could obtain a longer-lasting candle with a more brilliant flame. 19th Century – 20 Century Advances Back in Europe towards the early 1800s, a Frenchman named Michel Chrevreul had been experimenting with substances derived from animal fats, namely stearic acid. He found that it could be used to make yet another type of wax; one that was sturdier and burned well. His discovery took off and is still used in Europe in present times. Meanwhile in England about ten years later, a man called Joseph Morgan developed a process to churn out mass amounts of candles through the use of moulds. This was an important invention indeed, since it allowed candles to be manufactured cheaply and they were thus available for common people to purchase easily. By the 1850s, chemists were also tinkering with the use of paraffin wax combined with stearic acid to create cheaper and better candles. Sadly, the candle industry saw a marked decline when the invention of electric light bulbs made candles somewhat redundant. By the 1950s, candle making started to experience a comeback. This popularity has grown over the decades and today it is a flourishing industry, featuring all types of candles in various shapes, colors and novelty variations. Today’s Candles While light bulbs are still used as a primary source of light, candles are now seen as a throwback to the past. Soybean wax is a new type of wax which has become more widely used today. However, some niche markets still make and provide beeswax candles as a nostalgic reminder of the past. They are often used as gifts, decorations (lit or unlit) or often to provide soft lighting in homes and restaurants. Moreover, we still use candles in many ceremonies today, from solemn religious ones as a symbol of purity and cleansing, to simply whimsical toppings for birthday cakes. Links History of the Candle Candle Making - Parts of a Candle – Candles are primarily made up of the wick and a wax body. The wax can vary, depending on the effect that the candle maker wishes to produce.
- Using Beeswax (PDF) – Beginners can learn where to obtain beeswax and how to melt and mould it for use in candle making.
- How to Make Candles – Learn how to make and decorate candles with a very simple guide.
- Making Tallow Candles – Follow an outline of how tallow candles were made, beginning with removing fat from animal meat.
- A Guide to Candle Making (PDF) – Adults and kids alike will have fun making candles with these easy instructions!
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