Ben Carter
Babylon Candles are magical artefacts that feature in the 2007 film Stardust, based on the novel by Neil Gaiman. In the film, the candles are used to teleport a person from one location to another. The user must light the candle, thinking of where they wish to go. The candles are considered dark magic and are inspired by the nursery rhyme How Many Miles To Babylon?. While Babylon Candles are not real, you can purchase candles of the same name on Etsy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | A magical artifact used to teleport a person from one location to another |
| Usage | Light the candle, think of where you wish to go |
| Effect | In the book, the user crosses leagues with each step they take, bringing them to their destination faster than if they were to travel on foot. In the film, they are transported to their desired location in a flash of light |
| Inspiration | The nursery rhyme "How Many Miles To Babylon?" |
| Colour | Black |
| Length | 6" tall |
| Burn rate | 1 inch per minute |
| Availability | Rare |
| Type of magic | Dark magic |
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What You'll Learn
Babylon candles are a magical artifact
Babylon candles are made of black wax and are considered dark magic. They are lit while the user thinks of their desired location, and they are transported there in a flash of light. The candles burn through 1 inch per minute, and the user travels leagues with each step they take. If two users light a candle at the same time, thinking of different locations, they will be transported halfway.
In the book, the candle is given to Tristan in Faerie by "the small hairy person". In the film, Tristan's mother, Una, retrieves a Babylon candle from a cupboard in Ditchwater Sal's caravan and gives it to him. At the end of the film, Tristan and his love interest, Yvaine, are gifted a new candle at their coronation, which they use to return to the stars after their eighty-year reign.
The Babylon candle may have been inspired by the nursery rhyme "How Many Miles To Babylon?", which includes the lines: "Four score miles and ten...There and back again...You can get there by candlelight".
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They teleport users to their desired location
Babylon Candles are a fictional magical artifact from the 2007 film Stardust, based on the novel of the same name by Neil Gaiman. They are used to teleport a person from one location to another. In the book, one must light the candle, thinking of where they wish to go. The user crosses leagues with each step they take, bringing them to their destination far quicker than if they were to travel on foot. In the film, the user is transported to their desired location in a flash of light. However, if two users were to use the candle at the same time, they would instead be transported halfway.
In the film, Tristan uses a Babylon Candle to escape from the Witch Queen with Yvaine. However, because they think of different locations, they are left stranded on a cloud, stuck halfway between their homes. At the end of the film, Tristan and Yvaine are gifted a new candle at their coronation and use it at the end of their eighty-year reign to return to the stars.
In the book, the candle is given to Tristan in Faerie by "the small hairy person" and is used first for him to get to the star's crater, over the mountains. Later, Tristan and Yvaine use the candle to escape the clutches of the Witch Queen. Tristan used his own hand as the wick, resulting in a scar.
The Babylon Candle appears to have been inspired by the nursery rhyme "How Many Miles To Babylon?", which runs as follows: "Four score miles and ten. There and back again. You can get there by candlelight."
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They are linked to dark magic
Babylon candles, as depicted in popular culture and fiction, are often associated with dark magic and the invocation of ancient, powerful entities. The name itself conjures images of ancient Babylon, a city shrouded in mystery and reputed for its magical practices. While the existence of literal Babylon candles with supernatural properties is unlikely, the symbolic and ritualistic use of candles in magic, including dark magic, is very real and has a long history.
The association between candles and magic is deep-rooted in many cultures and spiritual traditions. Candles are often used in rituals and ceremonies to represent light in the darkness, to honor deities or spirits, and to focus and direct magical energy. In the context of dark magic, candles may be used to invoke entities from the shadows, to cast spells of banishment or cursing, or to create an atmosphere conducive to communing with the dead or otherworldly beings.
The color black is often associated with dark magic, and black candles in particular are seen as tools for absorbing negative energy, breaking hexes, and repelling negative influences. In some traditions of magic, candles are inscribed with symbols or words of power, anointed with oils or herbs, and burned during specific lunar phases or astrological alignments to enhance their magical properties. Babylon candles, in this context, may refer to a type of candle preparation or ritual that draws on ancient Mesopotamian symbolism and deities.
It is important to note that the term "dark magic" itself is often a matter of perspective and cultural interpretation. Practices that are labeled as dark or evil by one culture may be considered sacred and beneficial by another. The use of candles in magic, including rituals that might be labeled as dark magic, is often about personal intention and the context in which the magic is performed. Babylon candles, therefore, may be seen as tools that can be used for a variety of purposes, depending on the practitioner's intentions and beliefs.
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They are inspired by the nursery rhyme, 'How Many Miles To Babylon?'
Babylon Candles are magical artefacts that feature in the 2007 film Stardust, based on the novel by Neil Gaiman. They are used to teleport a person from one location to another. In the book, one must light the candle, thinking of their desired destination. The user crosses leagues with each step they take, bringing them to their destination much quicker than if they were to travel on foot. In the film, the candle transports the user to their desired location in a flash of light.
The Babylon Candle appears to have been inspired by the nursery rhyme, "How Many Miles To Babylon?". The rhyme goes: "Four score miles and ten. There and back again. You can get there by candlelight". In the film, the protagonist, Tristran, recites this rhyme to a small hairy person, who replies that there are those who would pay quite a bit for that. This exchange suggests a connection between the rhyme and the magical properties of the Babylon Candle.
The candle's name may also be derived from the great sorcerer Babylon, known for his craft of consumable magical items. In the film, the character Una, Tristan's mother, retrieves a Babylon Candle from a cupboard in Ditchwater Sal's caravan and gives it to her son. This candle is later used by Tristan and his companion Yvaine to escape the clutches of the Witch Queen.
Babylon Candles are considered "dark magic", although it is unclear why this is the case, as all they seem to do is transport the user from one place to another.
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They are featured in the film, *Stardust*
Babylon Candles are indeed featured in the 2007 film Stardust, based on the novel by Neil Gaiman. In the film, they are magical artefacts used to teleport a person from one location to another. To use the candle, one must light it, thinking of their desired destination. The user is then transported to their chosen location in a flash of light.
In the book, the candle is given to Tristan in Faerie by "the small hairy person". He uses it to first get to the star's crater over the mountains and later to escape the Witch Queen with Yvaine. However, when he tells Yvaine to think of home, she thinks of hers while he thinks of his, and the two are left stranded on a cloud, stuck halfway between their homes.
At the end of the film, Tristan and Yvaine are gifted a new candle at their coronation. They use it at the end of their eighty-year reign to return to the stars. The Babylon candle appears to have been inspired by the nursery rhyme "How Many Miles To Babylon?", which includes the lines "There and back again" and "You can get there by candlelight".
The Babylon candle is considered "dark magic", although it is unclear why this is the case. Some have speculated that it is due to the candle's association with the witch world and its use of black wax.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Babylon Candles are not real. They are magical artefacts used in the book and film 'Stardust'.
Babylon Candles are used to teleport a person from one location to another. In the book, the user must light the candle, thinking of where they want to go. With each step, they cross leagues, bringing them to their destination much faster than if they were to walk. In the film, the candle transports the user to their desired location in a flash of light.
Babylon Candles are considered dark magic because they are made of black wax and are associated with the great sorcerer Babylon, who was known for his consumable magical items.
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