Brooke Martin
Candles have been used as a source of light for thousands of years, with researchers believing they have been used for at least 5,000 years. The ancient Egyptians in 3000 B.C. created candles by dipping papyrus in beeswax or molten tallow, with the papyrus acting as a wick. The ancient Romans also created candles by dipping rolled papyrus in melted tallow or beeswax. Candles were also used in ancient China, India, and Japan, with materials varying from crushed bugs mixed with seeds to wax from tree nuts. In the Middle Ages, beeswax candles were introduced in Europe, burning cleaner and emitting a more pleasant smell than tallow candles, which were made from animal fat. Candles were held in clay vessels, metal candlesticks, or lanterns, and were used for lighting, religious ceremonies, and telling time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time period | Ancient Rome, Middle Ages |
| Materials | Papyrus, beeswax, tallow, cotton, animal fat |
| Use cases | Lighting, religious ceremonies, time-keeping, cooking, warmth |
| Production techniques | Dipping, drawing, moulding, hand-shaping, pouring |
| Candle holders | Lanterns, clay vessels, metal candlesticks, chandeliers |
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What You'll Learn
Candles in religious ceremonies
The use of candles in religious ceremonies dates back to ancient times. The Ancient Egyptians, around 3000 BC, used rushlights, a type of candle made by soaking the dried pith or core of the rush plant in melted animal fat or grease. These early candles did not have wicks and were likely used in religious ceremonies. The Ancient Romans are generally credited with developing the wicked candle by dipping rolled papyrus repeatedly in melted tallow or beeswax. These candles were used in religious ceremonies and to aid travellers at night.
Candles have played an important role in religious ceremonies and worship rituals in various cultures and religions. In Christianity, candles have been used in decorative, symbolic, and ceremonial ways. They represent the purifying light of God and have been a part of Christian ceremonies since around the time of Constantine, who ordered candles to be used during Easter celebrations. In the Middle Ages, beeswax candles became popular in churches due to their pleasant smell and smokeless burn, although they were expensive and only the church and the wealthy could afford them.
In Judaism, the Festival of Lights, or Hanukkah, has been recorded as early as 165 BC. Zoroastrianism also includes fire-worship, with Zoroastrians revering fire as the visible expression of Ahura Mazda, the eternal principle of light and righteousness. In Hinduism, fire is worshipped as divine and omniscient, and the popular festival of Diwali symbolises the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance".
The use of candles in religious ceremonies has continued into modern times, with candle-making guilds existing in Safavid Iran during the 1500s and 1600s, and candles being in high demand for marriage ceremonies in early modern Syria. Today, candles continue to be used in religious ceremonies, often as a symbol of celebration, honour, or worship.
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Ancient candle-making techniques
The earliest use of candles is often attributed to the Ancient Egyptians, who, in 3000 B.C., made rushlights or torches by soaking the pithy core of reeds in melted animal fat. However, these rushlights lacked a wick, a key component of true candles. The Ancient Egyptians also invented the wicked candle by dipping rolled papyrus in molten tallow or beeswax. This innovation paved the way for various ancient civilisations to develop their own wicked candles using waxes derived from indigenous plants and insects.
In Ancient Rome, around the 10th century B.C., candle-making witnessed a significant advancement with the introduction of candle wicks, which enabled a slower and more controlled burn. Romans created candles by repeatedly dipping rolled papyrus into melted tallow or beeswax. These candles were used for lighting homes, guiding travellers at night, and in religious ceremonies.
In China, textual evidence suggests that candle-making may have originated in the Qin dynasty (221–206 BCE), with candles potentially being made from whale fat. Chinese candles were also crafted using beeswax or stillingia tallow from the Chinese tallow tree, which has a low melting point and is often encased in harder beeswax or Chinese wax. The Chinese mastered the production of Chinese wax during the Yuan dynasty. Their candle-making technique involved repeatedly dipping a bamboo rod core, spirally wound with paper and rush pith wick, into melted wax or fats until the desired candle size was achieved.
In India, candle-making utilised wax extracted from boiling the fruit of the cinnamon tree. Japanese candle-making techniques were similar to those of China, but they also developed a unique method of moulding candles within paper tubes.
During the Middle Ages, beeswax candles were introduced in Europe, offering a purer, cleaner burn compared to animal-based tallow. Beeswax candles were preferred for church ceremonies due to their pleasant aroma and lack of smoky flame, but they were expensive, making tallow the prevalent choice for everyday household candles. By the 13th century, candlemaking became a guild craft in England and France, with chandlers travelling door-to-door to craft candles from kitchen fats or selling their creations in small shops.
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Candle holders and lanterns
In the Middle Ages, candle holders and lanterns were commonly used to provide light. Lanterns, which housed candles or small oil lamps, were typically made of wood, metal, clay, or horn. They protected flames from wind and rain and were easily portable, making them ideal for outdoor use and travel. Over time, the use of translucent materials, such as glass, improved light distribution. In towns, lanterns were used for street lighting, with night watchmen often carrying them on their patrols.
Candle holders, or candlesticks, served both functional and decorative purposes. They were made from a variety of materials, including clay, metal, and even glass. Designs ranged from simple to ornate, with decorations featuring religious motifs or family coats of arms. Wealthy households and churches often displayed their social status through multi-wick chandeliers or elaborate candlesticks.
Special candle holders, such as the scissors type, were designed to extend the life of candles by pushing the candle upwards as it burned. This innovation reflected the value placed on these light sources in medieval times.
The use of candle holders and lanterns was influenced by the types of candles available during the Middle Ages. Beeswax candles, though superior in terms of smell and smoke reduction compared to tallow candles, were more expensive and primarily used by the wealthy and the Church. The development of spermaceti, a byproduct of the whaling industry, in the 18th and 19th centuries offered a brighter light and harder texture that resisted softening in warm temperatures.
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Candle use in the home
The art of candle-making continued to develop, with various techniques employed to create candles, including dipping wicks in molten wax or tallow, shaping wax around a wick, or pouring wax or tallow over the wick. The use of moulds was introduced in the 1400s, marking a significant advancement in candle-making. The growth of the whaling industry in the 18th century brought another change, with spermaceti, derived from sperm whale oil, becoming a popular candle material. This wax produced a bright light and was harder than tallow or beeswax, making it ideal for warm climates.
In the 19th century, the large-scale industrial manufacturing of candles began, and the discovery of stearic acid led to the development of stearin wax, which burned cleanly and was long-lasting. During this time, metal lanterns that held candles became widespread, offering protection from wind and rain and providing light for outdoor activities and travel. These lanterns also served as street lighting, with night watchmen carrying them on their patrols.
While the advent of electric lighting reduced the reliance on candles, they remain popular today for decorative purposes, ambiance, and religious ceremonies. Modern candles are crafted from a variety of waxes, including soybean wax and palm wax, and are available in a multitude of sizes, shapes, and scents. Candles continue to be valued for the warmth and coziness they bring to homes, maintaining their relevance and popularity even in the face of modern alternatives.
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The evolution of candle wax
In Ancient Rome, around the 10th century BC, candle-making took a significant step forward with the introduction of candle wicks. Romans used animal fat (tallow) for their candles, a cheap and readily available material, which made tallow candles the most common type for centuries. Romans would dip rolled papyrus or wick in molten tallow or beeswax to create their candles.
During the Middle Ages, beeswax candles were introduced in Europe, offering a purer, cleaner burn without the smoky flame of tallow. Beeswax candles also emitted a sweet fragrance, in contrast to the acrid odour of tallow. However, due to their expense, beeswax candles were predominantly used by the wealthy and the Church.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the growth of the whaling industry brought about another transformation in candlemaking. Spermaceti, derived from sperm whale oil, became widely available. Spermaceti candles, like beeswax, burned cleanly without an unpleasant odour and produced a brighter light. They were also harder, making them more resilient to warmer temperatures.
The 19th century witnessed the introduction of large-scale industrial manufacturing techniques for candles, and French chemist Michel Eugene Chevreul's discovery of stearic acid extraction from animal fatty acids led to the development of stearin wax. This wax was hard and durable, burned cleanly, and remains popular in Europe today.
In the first half of the 20th century, the growth of the US oil and meatpacking industries increased the availability of paraffin and stearic acid, leading to a resurgence in candle popularity. Candles became increasingly decorative, and new types of candle waxes were developed, including soybean wax in the US and palm wax in other parts of the world.
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Frequently asked questions
In ancient times, candles were held in simple candle holders. Objects that could have been candle holders have been found in Babylonian and middle Minoan cultures, as well as in the tomb of Tutankhamun.
Ancient candle holders were likely much simpler than modern ones, as ancient candles themselves were more rudimentary. They were made of plant materials dipped in animal fat and burned imprecise and marginally effective flames.
Over time, candle holders likely became more sophisticated as candles became more advanced. In the 19th century, large-scale industrial manufacturing techniques were introduced for the mass production of candles, and moulds were used for the first time.
