Jessie Taylor
The unity candle is a ritual in which a couple lights a candle together during their wedding ceremony to symbolise their unity and the blending of their two lives into one. Although it is a relatively new custom, having become popular in the second half of the 20th century, it has sparked questions about whether it is a Catholic tradition. While some Catholic parishes allow it, others do not as it is not a part of the official Catholic wedding ceremony.
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What You'll Learn
The unity candle is not an official Catholic tradition
The unity candle is a relatively new custom, first becoming popular in the second half of the 20th century in American Protestant weddings. Its origins are unclear, but it may have been popularised by its appearance in a 1981 episode of the soap opera 'General Hospital'. The unity candle is not a part of the official Catholic wedding ceremony and is not included in the Vatican-approved rite of marriage. It is not mentioned in the Bible or any apostolic writings.
However, it is not prohibited by most dioceses, and many allow it to be done at the reception. It is desirable at a Catholic wedding for Holy Communion to be distributed, but in a mixed wedding, where one spouse and much of the congregation are not Catholic, Holy Communion is not encouraged. In such cases, the unity candle may be used as a sign of the baptismal unity of the couple.
The unity candle is also not part of Anglican wedding ceremonies, although it may be allowed at the discretion of the pastor.
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It is a Protestant and possibly pagan invention
The unity candle is a ritual sometimes inserted into Catholic wedding ceremonies following the exchange of vows and rings. It is not, however, a part of the official Catholic wedding ceremony and is not included in the Vatican-approved rite of marriage. It is largely a Protestant invention, with some speculating that it is possibly pagan.
The unity candle 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. The origins are unclear, but it may have become popular after featuring in a 1981 episode of the soap opera 'General Hospital'.
The unity candle is not a requirement for Catholic weddings, nor is it a Catholic tradition. It is not part of the wedding liturgy or the Mass and would therefore be distinctly inappropriate. It is desirable at a Catholic wedding for Holy Communion to be distributed. However, 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.
The unity candle ceremony is a symbolic way of showing everlasting love and devotion. The bride and groom each take a smaller lighted candle and together light the larger candle in the middle. They then blow out the smaller candles, symbolizing that their two lives are now blended into one.
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It is used to symbolise the joining of two people in marriage
The unity candle is a ritual sometimes inserted into Catholic wedding ceremonies following the exchange of vows and rings. It is not a part of the official Catholic wedding ceremony and is not included in the Vatican-approved rite of marriage. However, it is not prohibited by most dioceses and is allowed at the discretion of the priest or pastor.
The unity candle ceremony is a symbolic way of showing everlasting love and devotion, with the candle representing the joining of two people in marriage. During the ceremony, the bride and groom each take a smaller lighted candle and together light a larger candle in the middle, blowing out the smaller candles to symbolise the blending of their two lives into one.
The unity candle is a relatively new custom in wedding ceremonies, becoming popular in the second half of the 20th century, particularly in American Protestant weddings. The origins of the ritual are unclear, but it may have been popularised by its appearance in a 1981 episode of the soap opera "General Hospital".
The unity candle can be a meaningful way for a couple to symbolise their union and the start of their journey as a married couple, whether in a Catholic or non-denominational ceremony.
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It is lit after the exchange of vows and rings
The unity candle ceremony is a modern custom in wedding ceremonies, with no mention of it in the Bible or apostolic writings. It gained popularity in the second half of the 20th century in American Protestant weddings, and is now performed by couples with varying religions and beliefs.
The unity candle is lit after the exchange of vows and rings in a Catholic wedding ceremony. The bride and groom each take a small, lit candle and together light the larger candle in the middle. This symbolizes their unity and the start of their journey as a married couple. The smaller candles are then extinguished, symbolizing the blending of their two lives into one.
The unity candle ceremony is not part of the official Catholic wedding ceremony and is not included in the Vatican-approved rite of marriage. However, it is not prohibited, and most parishes allow it if the couple desires it. It is desirable at a Catholic wedding for Holy Communion to be distributed. However, in a mixed wedding where one spouse and a large part of the congregation are not Catholic, Holy Communion is not encouraged. In such cases, the unity candle can be employed as a sign of the baptismal unity of the couple.
The unity candle ceremony can be adapted to include the mothers of the bride and groom or their children, to emphasize family and generations. Some couples may prefer to keep the candle lit throughout their wedding ceremony to symbolize the growth and strengthening of their marriage over time.
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It is not prohibited by the Catholic Church
The unity candle is a wedding custom symbolizing two people joining in marriage. It involves the bride and groom each lighting a taper candle and together lighting a main candle, sometimes blowing out the taper candles to symbolize their two lives blending into one.
The unity candle is not a Catholic tradition. It is not part of the official Catholic wedding ceremony and is not included in the Vatican-approved rite of marriage. However, it is also not prohibited by the Catholic Church. Most parishes allow it, and couples can talk to their priest to see if it is possible. Many dioceses do not prohibit the custom but suggest it be done at the reception, as the Rite of Marriage already has abundant symbols of unity.
The unity candle is a relatively new custom, first becoming popular in the second half of the 20th century in American Protestant weddings. It may have been popularized by its use in a 1981 episode of the soap opera "General Hospital". The custom is desirable for Catholic weddings where one spouse is not Catholic, as it can be a sign of the baptismal unity of the couple.
Some people view the unity candle as a non-religious tradition, and it is not officially part of any church's practice. It can be adapted to the couple's wishes, such as leaving the taper candles burning to symbolize that the individuals do not lose their identity when married.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the unity candle is not a Catholic tradition. It is largely a Protestant tradition and is not part of the official Catholic wedding ceremony. However, some parishes allow it as an "add-on" and it is ultimately at the discretion of the priest or minister.
The unity candle symbolises the joining of two people in marriage. The couple each light a candle, then together they light a larger candle in the middle, blowing out the smaller candles to show that their two lives are now blended into one.
The unity candle tradition is thought to have originated in the US in the second half of the 20th century. It may have been popularised by a 1981 episode of the soap opera "General Hospital".
