It’s Almost Christmas

This weekend I’m going to a holiday party and everyone is supposed to bring a wrapped Christmas candle for the gift exchange. The organizers made life a lot easier for everyone when they picked a holiday candle as the gift. Christmas candles are affordable and easy to find. You can find them in all sizes and colors and many of them have a lovely fragrance.

Everyone appreciate how a simple Christmas candle can light up a room and create a festive atmosphere. Christmas candles have been a beloved holiday tradition for centuries.

Probably the most common illustration of Christmas candles people are familiar with is that of a Christmas tree adorned with lit candles as ornaments. Mercifully, most people have only seen this way of lighting up a tree in books or on TV since in real life this would be a major fire hazard! It’s hard to believe that a few centuries ago lighted candles were placed on live Christmas trees in many parts of Europe.

Christmas candles, like many other Christmas traditions, trace their origins to Roman civilization. In Rome, the candles were used during the winter season to ward off the darkness. The candles use in Ancient Rome was the representation of the god Saturn’s light of the world and warded off darkness. Darkness, in Christian tradition, was the symbol of evil. The light of the candle acted as a way or removing the presence of any evil spirits away from a home or place of worship.

Later on, when the Christians passed along the tradition of candles as a Christmas gift, the candles became symbolic of the manger of Christ’s birth. The lit candle was symbolic of the star that guided the wise men to Jesus’ birth. (Candles have also been used to symbolize the guiding light that brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem.)

Although not a part of the religious tradition surrounding Christmas, the changes that occur naturally also draw us the the light. Keep in mind that in the northern hemisphere the winter solstice which marks the longest night of the year is just before Christmas on December 21st. Even today we welcome the addition of any kind of holiday lights during this time.

Today, Christmas candles can be purchased at malls or holiday craft fairs. Some people enjoy making their own holiday candles. Regardless of where the Christmas candles come from, the beauty of the light is welcome during this special season.