Tyler Brooks
The unity candle is a candle used in a wedding ceremony to symbolize two people joining in marriage. The lighting of a unity candle is not part of the Catholic Rite of Marriage, and it is discouraged or prohibited in many Catholic churches. However, it has become a popular ritual in many Christian weddings, both Catholic and non-Catholic. The origin of the unity candle ritual is unclear, but it seems to have developed in America in the second half of the 20th century, with some sources citing its appearance in a 1981 episode of the soap opera General Hospital. While it is not a required element of the wedding ceremony, many couples choose to include it as a way to symbolize their unity. So, do Presbyterians do the unity candle?
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What You'll Learn
Unity candle origins
The unity candle is a candle used in a wedding ceremony to symbolize two people joining in marriage. The lighting of a unity candle is a relatively new custom, with no record of it in the Bible or any apostolic writings. The custom first became popular in the second half of the 20th century in American Protestant weddings. The exact origins of the unity candle are unclear, but its use in a 1981 episode of the soap opera 'General Hospital' is thought to have helped popularize the practice.
Dr. Michael Portelli is credited with the idea of a Marriage Candle and used it in his own wedding in the 1980s. This consisted of the mothers (or fathers) of the couple each lighting a family candle. The bride and groom then light their own taper from these family candles and come together to light their wedding candle as one flame. This symbolizes the two individuals coming from separate families and becoming one in marriage.
The unity candle ceremony is not a part of the Catholic Wedding Ceremony, which instead sees the regular reception of the Holy Eucharist as the heart of Christian Unity. The recently updated Catholic Rite of Marriage does not include provisions for the Unity Candle Ceremony, and many parishes do not allow its inclusion. However, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops has not explicitly prohibited its use, and some parishes allow the practice due to its personal meaning to the couple. It is generally recommended that couples check with their pastor before including the ceremony in their order of service.
Some sources claim that the unity candle was developed as a way to sell couples large, decorated candles at a high price. However, candle manufacturers deny these charges, although they admit that they benefited from the trend. The unity candle is also not a part of Anglican wedding ceremonies, although it may be allowed at the discretion of the pastor.
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Catholic unity candle stance
The unity candle ceremony is not part of the Catholic Wedding Ceremony. Catholic tradition views the regular reception of the Holy Eucharist as the heart of Christian unity. The recently updated Catholic Rite of Marriage does not include any provisions for the Unity Candle Ceremony, so many parishes do not allow its inclusion in the ceremony. While the US Conference of Catholic Bishops has not explicitly prohibited the use of the unity candle in the marriage rite, it has also not encouraged the practice.
The unity candle is a wedding industry fad of recent decades that has been incorporated into many Christian weddings, Catholic and non-Catholic. It is a candle used in a wedding ceremony to symbolize two people joining in marriage. The custom first became popular in the second half of the 20th century in American Protestant weddings. There is no record of it in the Bible or any apostolic writings.
The unity candle ceremony may be allowed at the discretion of the pastor. In the Sacred Tradition of the Catholic Church, a marriage is sacramental in nature when the couple are both baptized Christians. Given that Holy Communion is not encouraged at a mixed wedding, the use of a unity candle might be employed as a sign of the baptismal unity of the couple. If the unity candle is permitted, the couple should light their individual candles from the paschal candle, and the individual candles should not be extinguished.
The Catholic Church already has a powerful symbol of love and unity at nuptial masses, one that connects the community of faith and the communion of saints. The Paschal or Easter Candle, lit at the Easter Vigil, is the most important candle in the Catholic Church. From this candle, all the candles given at infant and adult baptisms are lit. The Paschal Candle represents Christ, the Light.
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Protestant unity candle stance
The unity candle is a candle used in a wedding ceremony to symbolize two people joining in marriage. The lighting of a unity candle is a relatively new custom, becoming popular in the second half of the 20th century in American Protestant weddings. The unity candle is not a required element of the wedding ceremony, and its use varies among different Christian denominations.
In Protestant weddings, the unity candle ceremony is not prohibited and is left to the preference of the couple. The origin of the unity candle ritual is unclear, but it is believed to have gained popularity after being featured in a 1981 episode of the soap opera "General Hospital". Some sources also attribute its creation to Dr. Michael Portelli, who used the idea of a "Marriage Candle" in his wedding in the 1980s.
During the unity candle ceremony, the parents or mothers of the couple light two small candles, representing the couple's families. The bride and groom then use these candles to light a larger central candle together, symbolizing the joining of their lives and the creation of a new family unit. The smaller candles may or may not be blown out, representing the couple's individual backgrounds or their merged lives.
While the unity candle ceremony is not officially prohibited in Protestant weddings, it is important to note that its inclusion may depend on the specific church, denomination, and their guidelines. Some churches may suggest alternative timings or locations for the unity candle ceremony, such as during the reception or outside the Rite of Marriage, to maintain the focus on the central rituals of the wedding ceremony.
In summary, the unity candle ceremony is a meaningful addition to Protestant wedding traditions, symbolizing unity, love, and the joining of two individuals and their families. Its inclusion in the wedding ceremony is a personal choice for the couple, and its specific rituals may vary according to their preferences and the guidelines of their chosen venue.
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Variations of unity candle ceremonies
Unity candle ceremonies are a relatively new custom in wedding ceremonies, symbolizing the joining of two individuals into the marriage bond. The unity candle ceremony is not part of the Catholic Wedding Ceremony or Anglican wedding ceremonies, although some parishes allow this practice due to its personal meaning to the couple.
The Traditional Unity Candle Ceremony
The traditional unity candle ceremony involves each member of the couple taking a taper candle and simultaneously lighting a larger central candle. This represents the union of the couple and the creation of a blended family. The taper candles may be blown out to indicate that the two lives have merged, or they may remain lit to symbolize that the married couple has not lost their individuality.
The Family Unity Candle Ceremony
In this variation, the parents of the couple, or just their mothers, light two small candles. The couple then uses these candles to light the larger unity candle together. This symbolizes the two individuals coming from separate families and becoming one in marriage.
The Unity Sand Ceremony
A popular alternative to the unity candle ceremony is the sand ceremony. Each member of the couple pours sand of different colors into a container, blending the two colors to symbolize their union. This variation can also be done with glass crystals, which are then sent back to an artist to be blown into a sculpture, vase, or bowl.
The Unity Time Capsule Ceremony
In this variation, the couple writes love letters to each other and places them in a box along with a bottle of wine. During the ceremony, they hammer nails into the box together, sealing it as a time capsule to be opened on a future anniversary or during a difficult time in their marriage.
The Unity in Paint Ceremony
Similar to the sand ceremony, each member of the couple pours paint of different colors onto a canvas, creating a colorful keepsake as the paint blends together.
The Unity in Soil Ceremony
In this variation, the couple each brings soil from their childhood homes and mixes it in a planter, adding a seed or tree sapling to symbolize their love growing together.
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Symbolism of unity candles
The unity candle ceremony is a relatively new custom in wedding ceremonies. It is not a part of the Catholic Wedding Ceremony, and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops has not encouraged its use. However, many Catholic churches allow it, suggesting it be done at the reception. The unity candle is also not a part of Anglican wedding ceremonies, although it may be allowed at the discretion of the pastor.
The unity candle is a candle used in a wedding ceremony to symbolize two people joining in marriage. The lighting of the unity candle symbolizes the union of two people, with the couple taking lighted candles and together lighting a larger unity candle to signify 'two becoming one'. This symbolizes the two individuals coming from separate families and becoming one in marriage. The unity candle ceremony is a way to involve the family in the wedding ceremony, with the mothers of the couple often lighting the two smaller candles. The smaller candles may be blown out after the unity candle is lit, symbolizing that the couple no longer exists without one another. Alternatively, the smaller candles may remain lit beside the central candle, symbolizing that the now-married partners have not lost their individuality.
The unity candle is also used in baptism rites, where it represents the "light of Christ". After baptism with water, a smaller candle is lit from the flame of the Paschal Candle and given to the newly baptized. They are instructed to keep the flame burning until the return of the Lord (Parousia).
The unity candle ceremony is a popular part of many humanist weddings, where celebrants work with the couple to create a personalized ceremony. It is also used in Protestant weddings, with the first popular instance of the unity candle ceremony being in a 1981 episode of General Hospital.
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Frequently asked questions
A unity candle is a candle used in a wedding ceremony to symbolize two people joining in marriage. Two taper candles are initially lit and used by each member of the marrying couple. These tapers are then used to light a larger pillar candle in the center.
The unity candle is a wedding-industry fad of recent decades that has been incorporated into many Christian weddings, Catholic and non-Catholic. It is not a required element of the Catholic nuptial liturgy, and some churches do not allow it. While it is unclear whether it is allowed in Presbyterian churches, it is not a part of the Catholic Wedding Ceremony.
The unity candle symbolizes the joining of two individuals into the marriage bond. The flame may be said to represent the passion in each individual's soul for their spouse. For Christians, it may be compared to the Holy Spirit and Jesus, who is the light of the world, within the souls of those who are baptized.
