Ben Carter
Greek Easter candles, also known as Lambada or Lambatha, are a significant part of Greek Easter traditions. These candles are often decorated with colourful ribbons, sparkles, jewels, and small toys, and are usually gifted by godparents to their godchildren. The candles are brought to church on Holy Saturday for the Resurrection Liturgy, where the priest lights a candle at midnight, symbolising the resurrection of Jesus. People then bring their lit candles home to mark a cross on their doorway as a blessing. Decorating Greek Easter candles can be a fun way to express creativity and add a personal touch to the celebration.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Occasion | Greek Easter |
| Who decorates the candle | Godparents or other family members |
| Who the candle is for | Godchildren |
| Purpose | To keep children engaged in the church service |
| Decorations | Jewels, small toys, colourful ribbons, sparkles, glitter, wooden icons, rope, metallic bands, images of the Virgin Mary, butterflies, burlap ribbon, satin bows |
| Burning time | Long |
| Ritual | Candles are lit at midnight on Holy Saturday to symbolise the resurrection of Jesus |
| Ritual | People return home after the midnight service and use their candles to mark a cross on their doorways |
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What You'll Learn
Using ribbons
Decorating Greek Easter candles, or lambades, is a fun and creative project. It is customary for godparents to gift their godchildren a decorated candle, but any family member can do this. Decorating candles with ribbons is a great craft for all ages.
One simple way to decorate a Greek Easter candle with ribbon is to simply wrap a pretty ribbon around the candle and secure it with tape or glue at the back. This is an easy way to dress up a candle and can be done with any type of ribbon, such as satin, grosgrain, or tulle. You can also add embellishments like a small toy or a bow.
If you want to get more creative, you can try a layered approach by combining ribbon with other materials. For example, cut a strip of scrapbook paper to go around the candle and layer the ribbon in front. You can also use other craft supplies like buttons, beads, or glitter.
For a ballerina-themed candle, wrap a piece of tulle around the candle for a tutu effect and secure it with glue. Then, wrap a ribbon around the top and draw the ballerina's upper body on the candle with a wax pen or sharpie. You can also attach your child's favourite toy animal with a pretty ribbon or glue on some Legos or toy cars.
Decorating Greek Easter candles with ribbons is a fun and easy way to get creative and add a personal touch to your celebrations.
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Adding sparkles and jewels
Decorating Greek Easter candles, or lambades, is a fun way to express yourself and make the church service more interesting. While the church provides enough lambathes for everyone, these candles are usually plain. You can decorate your candle with sparkles and jewels in a variety of ways to make it unique.
One way to add sparkles and jewels to your Greek Easter candle is to use colourful ribbons. You can wind the ribbon around the candle, adding jewels or sparkles along the way. This method creates a beautiful, textured look and ensures that the decorations are securely attached. You can also use ribbons to attach small toys or other charms to your candle.
When choosing jewels and sparkles for your candle, consider the colour and size of the decorations. You can opt for colourful jewels or sparkles in various sizes to create a vibrant and eye-catching design. Alternatively, you can use monochromatic jewels or sparkles in different sizes to create a more elegant and sophisticated look.
To attach the sparkles and jewels to your candle, you can use a strong adhesive or a hot glue gun. Ensure that the adhesive you choose is suitable for use on wax and will hold the weight of the decorations. Carefully apply the adhesive to the back of each jewel or sparkle and firmly press it onto the candle. If using a hot glue gun, be cautious and avoid burning yourself.
In addition to sparkles and jewels, you can further personalise your Greek Easter candle by adding your name or the name of your godchild. This can be done by attaching letters or beads that spell out the name or using a permanent marker to write the name directly on the candle.
Remember, when decorating your Greek Easter candle, to leave enough room at the top for it to burn during the church service. You don't want your decorations to interfere with the candle's flame. Enjoy the process of decorating your candle, and may it bring you joy during the Easter celebration!
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Attaching small toys
Greek Easter candles, or lambades, can be decorated with small toys, which is especially enjoyable for young children. You can attach small toys to the candle with a pretty ribbon, or use glue for a more secure hold. If you want to make the toy more stylish, you can spray paint it before attaching it to the candle.
If you have children, you likely have access to a large supply of small plastic animals, Lego pieces, and toy cars. You can attach your child's favourite animal with a ribbon, or glue on some Legos or a toy car.
You can also get creative and use tulle from a bonboniera to make a ballerina skirt. Simply wrap the tulle around the candle, secure it with glue, and wrap a ribbon around the top. To complete the ballerina, draw the top half of a ballerina on the candle using a wax pen, or draw it on tissue paper with a Sharpie, wrap the drawing around the candle, and secure it with a blow dryer.
Remember to leave enough room at the top of the candle so it can burn for a long time during the church service.
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Including religious icons
Decorating candles is a Greek Easter tradition that holds great significance for the community. The candles, called Lambada, are often gifted by godparents to their godchildren. These candles are usually decorated with jewels, ribbons, and small toys attached with colourful ribbons. While there is no restriction on how to decorate the candles, including religious icons can be a great way to make the candles more meaningful. Here are some ideas to include religious icons when decorating Greek Easter candles:
Religious Icons and Images:
The Pascha candle, which is often used in Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations, typically features religious icons. These icons can be wooden or made from other materials, and they are often kept as mementos after the candle has burned down. You can find Pascha candles with icons depicting Christ's resurrection or the Virgin Mary. These icons are usually attached to the candle, becoming keepsakes that can be displayed long after Easter.
Colours and Symbols:
Colours play a significant role in Greek Easter traditions. White candles are commonly used during the Midnight Mass on Easter Saturday. The colour white symbolises purity and can be a subtle way to incorporate religious symbolism into your candle design. Additionally, you can incorporate Easter symbols and icons associated with the resurrection, such as the cross, lambs, or other imagery that holds personal religious significance for you.
Beeswax Candles:
Beeswax candles are commonly used during Greek Easter celebrations, especially during processions on Good Friday. On this day, people carry beeswax candles and walk behind the priest and pallbearers, who carry a holy bier topped with an icon of Christ. Using beeswax for your Easter candle can be a subtle way to include a religious element, as it is a traditional material associated with Greek Easter rituals.
Personalised Decorations:
Greek Easter candles are often personalised, especially for children. While toys and colourful ribbons are popular additions, you can also incorporate religious icons that hold personal significance. For example, you could attach a small icon of a saint or a religious symbol that is meaningful to the individual who will be using the candle.
Decorating Greek Easter candles with religious icons is a beautiful way to enhance the spiritual significance of this tradition. Whether you choose to include images of Christ or the Virgin Mary, use symbolic colours, or personalise your candle with meaningful religious icons, your decorations will add a unique and thoughtful touch to your Easter celebrations.
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Ensuring a long burn time
When decorating Greek Easter candles, or lambathes, it is important to ensure a long burn time. This is because the candles are meant to stay lit for the entire church service, which could last a few hours, and it is customary to take the candles home while they are still lit and say prayers. The candle is then kept lit until it burns out naturally.
To ensure a long burn time, it is crucial to leave enough room at the top of the candle when decorating. This prevents the decorations from catching fire and allows the candle to burn for an extended period. It is also important to consider the type of candle used. A candle made from a harder wax will burn slower and last longer.
Additionally, the thickness of the candle can impact its burn time. A thicker candle will burn more slowly and last longer than a thinner candle of the same height. Choosing a candle with a wider base can help ensure a longer burn time.
Another way to extend the burn time of a Greek Easter candle is to place it in a candleholder or container. This can protect the candle from drafts and outside elements, allowing it to burn more slowly and last longer.
Finally, it is important to be mindful of the decorations used. Some decorations, such as sparkles, glitter, or other flammable materials, may catch fire more easily. Choosing non-flammable decorations or ensuring they are securely attached to the candle can help prevent them from catching fire and allow for a longer burn time.
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Frequently asked questions
Greek Easter candles, also known as Lambada or Lambatha, are often decorated with jewels or small toys attached with colourful ribbons. Some candles are also decorated with sparkles, glitter, metallic bands, wooden icons, and natural burlap or satin ribbons.
Greek Easter candles are a significant part of Greek Easter traditions. On Holy Saturday, people participate in the Resurrection Liturgy at midnight. During the ceremony, the church goes dark, and the priest lights a candle, representing the eternal flame of Jesus. The priest then shares the flame with the congregation, who light each other's candles. People then return home with their lit candles to mark a cross on their doorway as a blessing.
In Greek families, it is customary for godparents to buy their godchildren decorated Easter candles. However, if godparents do not uphold this tradition, other family members may gift the candles instead.
