Ben Carter
A candle is an ignitable wick embedded in wax or another flammable substance, which provides light, heat, fragrance, or a method of keeping time. Candles have been used for over two millennia and were once a significant form of indoor lighting. While candles are no longer essential for illumination, they are still used for functional, symbolic, and aesthetic purposes. Various devices, such as candlesticks, candelabras, chandeliers, lanterns, and sconces, can be used to hold candles. These devices are often decorative and can add atmosphere to a space. While a candle is not a utensil in and of itself, the devices used to hold it and manipulate it (such as candle snuffers) could be considered utensils.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | A candle is an ignitable wick embedded in wax or another flammable solid substance such as tallow. |
| Composition | A candle is made from wax, tallow, or other flammable solid substances. |
| Uses | Candles are used for lighting, providing heat, fragrance, and timekeeping. They are also used for decorative, symbolic, and ceremonial purposes. |
| History | Candles have been used for over two millennia and were a significant form of indoor lighting before the invention of electric light. |
| Religious Significance | Candles hold religious significance in Christianity, Judaism, and other faiths, often used in rituals and spiritual practices. |
| Candle-Making Utensils | Various tools and devices are used in candle-making, including moulds, dyes, and devices like candlesticks, candelabras, and lanterns to hold the candles. |
| Candle Holders | Candlesticks, candelabras, chandeliers, lanterns, sconces, and chambersticks are all used to hold candles. |
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What You'll Learn
Candles are made from wax, tallow, or other flammable solids
A candle is an ignitable wick embedded in wax or another flammable solid substance, such as tallow. The wick of a candle, lit via an open flame, melts and ignites a small amount of solid fuel (the wax), which then vaporizes and combines with oxygen to form a flame. The flame then melts the top of the mass of solid fuel, which moves up through the wick and is continually burned, thus maintaining a constant flame.
Before the invention of candles, ancient people used open fire, torches, splinters of resinous wood, and lamps to provide artificial illumination at night. Primitive oil lamps, in which a lit wick rested in a pool of oil or fat, were used from the Paleolithic period. Objects resembling candlesticks have been found in Babylonian and middle Minoan cultures, as well as in the tomb of Tutankhamun. The "candles" used in these early periods were likely made of plant materials dipped in animal fat.
Today, candles are commonly used for functional, symbolic, and aesthetic purposes, as well as in specific cultural and religious settings.
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Candles have been used for light, heat, and religious purposes
The earliest use of candles is often attributed to the Ancient Egyptians, who made rushlights or torches by soaking the pithy core of reeds in melted animal fat. However, these rushlights did not have wicks like true candles. The ancient Romans are generally credited with developing wicked candles before the Egyptians, by dipping rolled papyrus in melted tallow or beeswax. These candles were used to light their homes, aid travellers at night, and in religious ceremonies.
Candles were also used in the Paleolithic period, with primitive oil lamps discovered that had a lit wick resting in a pool of oil or fat. In the Bronze Age, candles were made from plant materials dipped in animal fat.
Candles have been used for various religious purposes. In Christianity, candles gained significance for their decorative, symbolic, and ceremonial uses in churches. In the 4th century, the ceremonial use of lights became firmly and universally established in the Church. In the Roman catacombs, lamps have been discovered from the 2nd and 3rd centuries that seem to have been used for ceremonial or symbolic purposes. In Zoroastrianism and Hinduism, fire is revered as an object of worship. One of Hinduism's most popular festivals, Diwali, symbolizes the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance".
Candles can also provide heat and a method of keeping time. The combustion of a candle produces light, heat, carbon dioxide, and water vapour. The size of the flame and the corresponding rate of burning are controlled by the candle wick. The type of wax used also affects the burn rate, with beeswax and coconut wax burning longer than paraffin or soy wax.
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Candles can be held by candlesticks, chandeliers, or lanterns
A candle is a mass of wax or tallow with an embedded wick that may be burned to give light, heat, or scent. They have been used for over two millennia and were once a significant form of indoor lighting. Candles are still used for functional, symbolic, and aesthetic purposes, especially in specific cultural and religious contexts.
Candles can be held by various devices, including candlesticks, chandeliers, or lanterns. A candlestick is a device used to hold a candle in place. It often has a cup, spike, or both to keep the candle in place. The simplest form of a domestic candlestick is a block of wood with a vertical iron spike driven into it, with the candle impaled on the spike. Candlesticks can range in size and complexity, from medieval blocks of wood to huge bronze altar candlesticks.
Candelabras are a type of candlestick with 'branches' or 'arms' that can hold multiple candles. They are often used in religious rituals, such as the Hanukiah, a Hanukkah menorah found in many Jewish homes, and the dikirion and trikirion used by Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox bishops.
Chandeliers are another device used to hold candles, often with decorative and atmospheric purposes. Lanterns are also used to hold candles and can be portable, making them useful for lighting when carried between rooms.
These devices have been used throughout history to hold candles, providing light, heat, and atmosphere, and continue to be used today, especially in cultural and religious contexts.
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A candlestick is a device to hold a candle, with a cup, spike, or both
A candlestick is a device used to hold a candle, typically made from materials like silver, brass, or wood. It usually holds a single candle, often a taper candle, and is designed to be tall and narrow to stabilize the candle and prevent it from tipping over and dripping wax. The simplest form of a domestic candlestick is a block of wood with a vertical iron spike that holds the candle in place. This basic design has been found in various sizes, with some having a single spike, while others have two spikes or a circular tray with multiple spikes.
Candlesticks have been used throughout history, with references to ecclesiastical candlesticks in the Old Testament. For example, Moses was commanded to make a menorah, a golden candelabrum with six arms and seven candles, for the Tabernacle. In the Middle Ages, candlesticks were commonly made of wood with an iron spike, and these simple yet functional designs survived into the early 19th century. Bronze candlesticks also appeared as early as the 10th century, with impressive examples produced in Germany, the Low Countries, and elsewhere for ecclesiastical and secular purposes.
Over time, the design of candlesticks evolved, and by the Italian Renaissance, huge bronze altar candlesticks were created. The most well-known example is the Trivulzio candlestick in the Milan Cathedral, standing at six meters tall and dating back to around 1200. Candlesticks are also commonly associated with formal dining and religious ceremonies, providing an elegant and classic touch to various occasions.
Today, while electric lighting has largely replaced candles, candlesticks are still used in homes as decorative elements or to create a cozy and atmospheric ambiance. They continue to hold cultural and religious significance, especially in Jewish homes, where candlesticks are often displayed to mark the beginning of the Sabbath every Friday.
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A chandler is a person who makes candles
A chandler is a person who makes and sells candles. The term 'chandler' was originally used to refer to the head of the medieval household office responsible for candles. In the Middle Ages, the production of candles was often done privately, and chandlers would also deal in oils, soap, and paint.
The process of candle-making involves embedding a wick in wax or another flammable solid substance like tallow. The kind of wax used affects the burn rate, with beeswax and coconut wax burning longer than paraffin or soy wax. Candles can also be made from microcrystalline wax, gel (a mixture of polymer and mineral oil), or plant waxes like palm, carnauba, bayberry, or soybean wax.
The earliest candles were likely made of plant materials dipped in animal fat, and ancient people used open fires, torches, and oil lamps as alternative sources of artificial illumination. By the early Bronze Age, candles were being made with a reliable supply of animal or vegetable fats. Over time, candles made from beeswax, tallow, and, more recently, paraffin wax became more affordable and accessible to the masses.
Today, candles are commonly used for functional, symbolic, and aesthetic purposes, as well as in specific cultural and religious contexts. While electric lighting has reduced the necessity of candles for illumination, they remain significant in decorative, symbolic, and ceremonial uses in churches and other cultural settings.
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Frequently asked questions
A candle is a usually molded or dipped mass of wax or tallow containing a wick that may be burned to give light, heat, scent, or to be used for celebration or votive purposes.
A utensil is an instrument or container that is used especially in a household.
No, a candle is not a utensil. A candle is not an instrument or a container.
Examples of utensils include forks, knives, spoons, cups, and bowls.
A candlestick, also known as a "candleholder", is used to hold a candle in place.
