Candle Traditions Around the World

We’ve already talked about the history of lighting and blowing out a candle on one’s birthday (see our post “Why Do We Blow Out Candles to Celebrate Birthdays?”), but what about the other times candles are used? We did a little research and found that candles have played an important role in many diverse cultures ever since they were first invented by the Romans in 500 BC. And, despite the various uses and traditions, there seems to be one guiding theme that drives the ritual usage of candles: that of life and human connection.

December Celebrations

Many religions celebrate major observances during the month of December, and the lighting of candles plays a great role in a variety of traditions. Hanukkah is known as the “feast of lights” so there is no surprise that lit candles are vital parts of this Jewish tradition (most prominently in the lighting, one day at a time, of the eight candles of the menorah). The Christian tradition of Christmas sees the lighting of the “Christ Candle” as a central part of Christmas Eve ceremonies. For Kwanzaa, a kinara is used to hold seven candles – three red, one black and three green.

Offerings to Gods and Deities

Light has always played a role in religious belief, with sacred fire being an important offering to the gods. The ancient Romans in particular lit candles in their temples and spiritual spaces. The lighting of candles before a shrine as a show of respect is also common in Buddhist and Hindu traditions. In types of Christianity, votive candles are often used in this way and are also lit to represent prayer intentions.

Unity and Marriage

Lighting a “unity” candle has become an increasingly popular part of wedding ceremonies, with brides and grooms, both religious and secular, finding great meaning in this act. Typically, the bride lights one candle and the groom the other, and together they will light a third candle using the flames from their own.

Candle in a Window

The act of placing a candle in a window dates back to colonial times in the United States. Evoking familial warmth, people would place a candle in view of people outside the home as a beacon of good hope and a welcome to weary travellers. When family members were away, the candle could also represent the family calling their loved one back home.

Funerals and Vigils

The custom of lighting a candle as a response to a loved one’s death comes out of the ancient belief that this would help prevent demons from seizing the soul of the deceased. Today, candlelit vigils are powerful ways of bringing people together in mourning and remembrance.

Dance

One may think that dance and candles shouldn’t mix, but the classical Egyptian belly dance style raqs sharqi finds a way to safely bring the two together as the dancer holds a candle either in her hand or on her head.

Time-Keeping

Given what we know today about the ways that ambient room conditions like temperature and air flow can affect the burning of a candle, we would never use a candle to try and keep accurate time. However, the medieval Anglo-Saxon king Alfred the Great did just that, using a series of four-hour “candle-clocks” to keep track of the passing hours.

Why Do We Blow Out Candles to Celebrate Birthdays?

It has often been said there are very few genuine surprises left in life. In our digital age it has become incredibly easy to satisfy our natural human curiosity, and so there just aren’t many mysteries or facts remaining that we simply take for granted.

However, blowing out candles on a birthday cake is one of those rituals nearly everybody takes part in and nobody seems to question. Perhaps you, like us, had never thought to ask the question because it’s just something you do, year after year.

Well, we recently did some digging to find out once and for all why this tradition is so pervasive in many cultures and ended up having trouble finding one definitive reason! Here are the three top theories of how it all began, so you can take your pick of the one that seems most likely and impress your party guests with this new piece of trivia.

Ancient Greece

Many people believe that the very first birthday to be celebrated in this way was that of the Greek moon goddess Artemis. It is thought that to honour her, early Greeks brought cakes adorned with candles to her sacred temple on the sixth day of every lunar month. However, it is commonly accepted that the candle wasn’t invented until the third century BCE in China so while the idea of Artemis’ birthday celebrations is a nice one, there is little evidence to support this theory.

Pagan Ritual

Fire has been used ritually since it was first discovered. It is believed that ancient pagans may have played an extra special role in establishing candle-blowing as a key part of birthday celebrations, as the smoke from ritual candles was intended to carry their prayers to the gods in the sky. They also believed that the smoke could ward off evil spirits, but it is likely the smoke’s direct route to the heavens that leads some to draw the connection between pagan ritual and making a birthday wish.

18th-Century Germany

The strongest evidence belongs to the German tradition of Kinderfest, which has its roots in the eighteenth century. An event for children, this birthday tradition closely mirrors how we celebrate these occasions today. There is also a connection to the superstitious element from the pagan theory: The children were taken to a large room where they were free to celebrate in a safe space protected from evil spirits in search of innocent souls. Whether or not Kinderfest actually saved children, there is no disputing that by 1799 Germans were celebrating in this way, as Goethe wrote in a letter from that year:

“…when it was time for dessert, the prince’s entire livery… carried a generous-size torte with colourful flaming candles… as is the case with children’s festivities of this kind.”

No matter which theory you believe, it is probably worth mentioning, too, that in this day and age of hypervigilance when it comes to germs, nobody seems to care about the splashes of breath and candle wax that end up on the cake! Perhaps that is one aspect of the tradition that is best left unquestioned.