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