| The history of candles goes back thousands of years. | | | | exorcism demons. |
| They were used to light the way of our ancestors, | | | | Candles were often used during the witch-hunts of the |
| they were used in rituals, exorcisms and to even find | | | | Middle Ages and the Renaissance by townspeople to |
| treasures. However, where candles came from is a | | | | protect themselves and their livestock from being |
| mystery. One of the earliest mentions of candles in | | | | injured or taken by witches. |
| history is in Egypt as early as 3000 BC where It is said | | | | It was a common belief that witches used candles in |
| that beeswax candles were used. | | | | history to put curses on people. An English work, Dives |
| Early Egyptians also used taper candles, made of | | | | and Pauper (1536) reveals, "it hath oft been known that |
| rushes and covered with tallow to help keep their | | | | witches, with saying of the Paternoster and dropping |
| shape, to perform a ritual whereby they used their | | | | of the holy candle in a man's steps that they hated, |
| dreams to seek answers. This was called "Dreaming | | | | hath done his feet rotten of." |
| True". | | | | Candles made from the fat of humans were believed |
| To do this, an individual sat in a dark cave and stared | | | | to contain the life energy of the owner. This made |
| into a flame, facing the south. After he reached a | | | | these candles perfect for use in Black Magick rituals. |
| state whereby he saw whatever God he was | | | | Treasure seekers of the 17th amd 17th centuries used |
| seeking, he would retire, confident that that God would | | | | what was called a "Magic Candle", made of human |
| appear to him in his dreams and the answers he | | | | tallow, to find buried treasure. It, along with a lantern |
| sought would then be answered. | | | | with a consecrated candle in it, would then conjure the |
| Ancient tribes also found that meditation and even | | | | spirits of the guardians of the treasure. |
| precognition could be achieved by using candles to | | | | There is a history of candles being used in an old |
| enter an altered state of consciousness. By | | | | Jewish custom of lighting candles for the dying so as |
| concentrating on the flames, they could see | | | | to stave off demons. Also, the keeping of a candle lit |
| mysterious things, talk to Gods or talk to the spirits of | | | | for a week in the room where a person died is said to |
| their loved ones who have passed on. | | | | purify the air. |
| The history of candles in the Church is a long one. | | | | American superstition also says that keeping a candle |
| Because candles were used by the pagans in their | | | | burning in an empty room will result in the death of a |
| rituals, the Roman Catholic Church looked down on | | | | relative. A candle that is dying out means someone in |
| their use. However, by the fourth century, the use of | | | | the house is about to die, and if a candle has a blue |
| candles and lamps in Christian rituals had become | | | | flame, it means that there is a ghost nearby. |
| commonplace. | | | | The history of candles being used in rituals and |
| The use of candles on the alter was not allowed until | | | | superstitions has given rise to Wiccans, Pagans, |
| the late Middle Ages when the Catholic Church | | | | Christians and even Atheists viewing candles as |
| decided that using consecrated holy candles would be | | | | having seemingly mystical qualities. |
| useful in blessings, in the absolution of sins or the | | | | |