Do You Burn Bayberry Candles On Christmas Eve Or New Year’S Eve?

The History and Folklore of Bayberry Candles

Bayberry candles have a long history intertwined with holiday traditions. The candles are made from the waxy grey-green berries of the bayberry bush, which is native to the east coast of North America. Bayberries contain a natural wax that can be extracted by boiling the berries in water and skimming the wax off the top.

The practice of making bayberry candles dates back to colonial times in New England. The candles were a homemade necessity for the colonists, providing light and warmth in the cold winters. The difficulty of extracting the wax meant the candles were labor-intensive to produce and became a holiday tradition.

Bayberry candles also became embedded in folklore and superstition around the winter holidays. An old New England poem declares “A bayberry candle burnt to the socket, will bring joy to the heart and gold to the pocket.” Bayberry candles were said to bring good fortune, prosperity, and protection from evil and lightning when burnt until nothing but the wick remained.

In addition, an old legend holds that a bayberry candle lit on Christmas Eve will ensure good luck throughout the coming year, as long as the candle burns continuously until morning. This led to the tradition of lighting bayberry candles on Christmas Eve and letting them burn all night long.

While less common today than in colonial times, the legends and traditions connected to bayberry candles keep them a favorite holiday decoration in many New England households.

How Bayberry Candles Are Made

Bayberry candles are made from the waxy fruit of the bayberry shrub. To make bayberry candles, the fruit is first harvested by hand in late summer or early fall when the fruit is ripe. The fruit is then boiled in hot water to melt the wax which floats to the surface. This wax is skimmed off the top, strained to remove any debris, and cooled to solidify it.

The solid bayberry wax is then melted again and poured into molds to make candle shapes. As the candles cool, the wax hardens into the finished candle form. Wicks are inserted into the center before the wax fully hardens.

In addition to bayberry wax, other natural waxes like beeswax or soy wax are sometimes added to modify the burn properties or scent. Essential oils extracted from herbs, spices, or flowers can also be mixed in to give bayberry candles a signature fragrance.

Bayberry Candles on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve: History, Symbolism and Habits

Bayberry candles have long been a part of winter holiday celebrations. The burning of these aromatic candles made from the waxy fruits of the bayberry bush carries rich symbolism and represents cherished traditions for many families and communities.

Origins and traditions

The practice of burning bayberry candles at Christmastime emerged from early American colonial days. Bayberry wax was used to hand-dip candles that emitted a distinctive scent when lit. Over time, these natural “bayberries” became strongly associated with Christmas Eve and winter holiday decor.

One delightful folk legend holds that a bayberry candle lit on Christmas Eve will ensure good fortune, health, and prosperity throughout the coming year. This bit of festive New England folklore popularized the custom of lighting bayberry candles on Christmas Eve to bring luck into the home.

Symbolism and meaning

Beyond the charming legend, bayberries carry symbolic meaning related to giving, friendship, and the warmth and joy of the season. Their evergreen-spiced aroma evokes nostalgia for old-fashioned holiday cheer and simple family pleasures.

The gifting of hand-dipped bayberry candles represents the giving of luck and well wishes to friends and loved ones. The self-trimming spiral shape formed as the candles burn down is said to symbolize life’s paths and seasons.

Regional practices

While lighting bayberry candles on Christmas Eve prevail in New England, the traditional timing and practices vary by region. Some light the candles on both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve for a double dose of good fortune. Others focus the special candles on welcoming the new year.

Burning bayberry candles is a beloved practice in coastal towns, where residents harvest boughs of the wild bayberry shrub to make aromatic holiday decorations. The custom spans generations as a signature tradition of East Coast culture and heritage.

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New England

Bayberry candles have a long history in New England, especially around the Christmas season. The bayberry, an evergreen shrub native to coastal areas, has a waxy blue-gray fruit that was traditionally used to make aromatic candles. Burning bayberry candles on Christmas Eve was thought to bring good luck and prosperity in the coming year.

Mid Atlantic

In Mid Atlantic states like New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve were popular times for lighting bayberry candles. The tradition may have spread from New England down to urban centers like New York City and throughout the mid-Atlantic region.

Southern United States

Bayberry plants are native along coasts of many southern states. But there is less evidence showing southerners burning bayberry candles specifically for Christmas or New Year’s. The tradition seems more focused in northern areas where bayberry shrubs thrive.

Other regions

Outside of the New England and Mid Atlantic regions, there is limited history showing other parts of the country adopting the custom of burning bayberry candles for the winter holidays.

The History and Tradition of Burning Bayberry Candles

Bayberry candles have a long history of being burned for holiday celebrations. The tradition dates back to colonial times in New England. Settlers believed the aromatic smoke from burning bayberry candles would bring good luck and prosperity in the new year.

In the 1700s and 1800s, bayberry candle making was a common household craft in New England. The wax was extracted from the fruit of bayberry shrubs by boiling the berries in water and skimming the wax off the surface after it cooled. The wax was then used to handcraft candles.

Bayberry candle burning continued to be a beloved New England tradition for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve for generations. The practice spread beyond New England but remained most popular in this region.

Continued Popularity Today

Today, bayberry candles are still burned in many New England homes during the holidays. The tradition lives on despite the decreased necessity of making one’s own candles thanks to the commercial availability of candles.

The popularity stems from custom, heritage, the aromatic fragrance, and the continued belief that bayberry candles will attract good fortune for the coming year.

Commercial Production

While some artisans still handcraft bayberry candles for small-scale retail sale, most bayberry candles today are commercially manufactured. The bayberry wax is blended with other waxes to produce candles on a large scale.

Manufactured bayberry candles attempt to replicate the spicy, woodsy fragrance of homemade bayberry candles. Essential oils and botanical extracts may be added to enhance the aroma.

Safety Considerations

Proper precautions should be taken when burning bayberry candles or any other type of candle. Never leave burning candles unattended. Keep out of reach from children and pets. Burn candles in stable, fireproof containers.

Those with respiratory sensitivities should also take care, as the fragrance from bayberry candles may aggravate symptoms for some.

Types of Candles

There are several types of candles that people commonly burn during the holidays, including bayberry, beeswax, soy, and paraffin candles. Bayberry candles are made from the waxy fruit of the bayberry bush, while beeswax candles contain wax made by honey bees. Soy candles use soybean oil, and paraffin candles use petroleum-based wax.

Natural candles like bayberry, beeswax, and soy have some advantages over synthetic paraffin candles. They are often perceived as more environmentally friendly and sustainable. Beeswax and soy candles in particular burn longer and cleaner than paraffin. However, paraffin is generally cheaper and may provide a stronger scent throw. Ultimately, the type of candle comes down to personal preference and priorities around factors like cost, performance, and sustainability.

Sustainability of harvesting bayberries

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The Significance of Burning Bayberry Candles

Bayberry candles hold special meaning in various holiday traditions. Burning bayberry candles on Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve is thought to bring good luck, prosperity, and positive energy into the coming year.