What Are The Names Of The Christmas Candles?

The tradition of lighting candles at Christmas time dates back centuries and carries meaningful symbolism. Candles have long been used to represent Jesus Christ, who is known in Christianity as the “light of the world”. The lighting of candles on Christmas Eve started as a way for Christians to remember this symbolism and honor Christ’s birth.^[1] Over time, the custom spread and candles became incorporated into various Christmas traditions around the world. Today, they remain an iconic part of holiday celebrations and decor.

[1] https://www.whychristmas.com/customs/candles

Advent Candles

The Advent candles are four candles that are lit on each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. Each candle has a specific meaning and symbolism that represents the light of Christ coming into the world. The four candles typically include:

The Prophecy Candle – This purple candle is lit on the first Sunday of Advent and represents hope. It reminds us that Jesus’ coming was prophesied for centuries before his birth. (Source)

The Bethlehem Candle – The second purple candle is lit on the second Sunday of Advent and represents faith. It reminds us of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem. (Source)

The Shepherd’s Candle – The third pink candle is lit on the third Sunday of Advent and represents joy. It reminds us of the joy the shepherds felt when the angels appeared announcing Jesus’ birth. (Source)

The Angel’s Candle – The fourth purple candle is lit on the fourth Sunday of Advent and represents peace. It reminds us of the message of the angels: “Peace on earth, good will toward men.” (Source)

Christingle Candles

Christingle candles are candles placed inside oranges to represent Jesus Christ as the “light of the world”. The tradition started in the Moravian Church in Germany in the 1700s and later spread to the Anglican Church in England in the 1960s.

The symbolism of the Christingle candle is:

• The orange represents the world
• The candle represents Jesus Christ
• The red ribbon around the orange represents the blood of Christ
• The sweets and dried fruits pushed into the orange represent the fruits of the earth and creation

Christingle candles are often lit on the Sunday before Christmas in Anglican churches as part of a special Christingle service. Children are given the Christingle oranges with candles to hold during the service. The lighting of the candles represents Jesus lighting up the world and bringing hope.

The tradition helps teach children about the meaning of Christmas and the symbols of their Christian faith. Christingle candle services have become a popular Christmas event in many churches and schools in England and beyond. The candles are an eye-catching way to represent Jesus as the light of the world spreading hope.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christingle

Poinsettia Candles

Poinsettias are a popular flower associated with the Christmas season. The poinsettia’s connection to Christmas stems from a Mexican legend involving a young girl named Pepita and her gift of humble weeds to Jesus. The weeds miraculously turned into beautiful red flowers, known today as poinsettias. Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States Minister to Mexico, brought poinsettia plants back to the US from Mexico in 1825. As a result, the plant became known as poinsettia. 1

Today, poinsettias are a staple Christmas decoration. The vibrant red leaves simulate the Star of Bethlehem that guided the wise men to Jesus. The shape of the poinsettia flower and leaves are sometimes thought to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem as well. The poinsettia’s winter blooming season represents how Jesus’ birth brought light and hope to the world amidst cold and darkness. 2

In recent years, poinsettia scented candles have also become popular Christmas decor. The candles evoke the spirit of Christmas through the poinsettia’s significance. The floral scent fills homes with festive holiday cheer. Poinsettia candles come in traditional red colored jars, as well as other Christmas colors like green and gold. They make great holiday gifts and capture the essence of the poinsettia’s meaning for Christmas in candle form. 3

Saint Lucy Candles

Saint Lucy candles are used in celebrations honoring Saint Lucy, a Christian martyr who died in 304 AD. Her feast day, Saint Lucy’s Day, is celebrated on December 13th in many parts of Europe, particularly in Scandinavian countries like Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Norway.

The candles are meant to symbolize the story of Saint Lucy bringing light into the darkness, as her name Lucia means “light” in Latin. She is commonly depicted wearing a crown of candles on her head. On Saint Lucy’s Day, a young girl is chosen to portray Saint Lucy in a white robe and candle crown. She leads a procession of girls also dressed in white and holding a single candle (Source 1).

The candles also represent the lingering darkness in December before the winter solstice, as Saint Lucy’s Day falls around the time of the year with the shortest daylight hours. The candles bring light and hope that the days will soon start getting longer again. In this way, the Saint Lucy candles connect to pagan winter solstice traditions of using candlelight to mark the point when daylight starts increasing (Source 2).

Hanukkah Candles

The Hanukkah menorah, also known as a hanukkiah, has nine branches and holds nine candles. One candle is used to light the others each night. According to the My Jewish Learning article What Are Hanukkah Candles?, eight candles symbolize the eight days that the oil burned in the Temple. The ninth candle, called the shamash, is used to light the others.

On the first night of Hanukkah, the shamash candle is used to light just one candle. On the second night, the shamash is used to light two candles, and so on, until all eight candles are lit on the eighth night, along with the shamash. The candles are placed in the hanukkiah from right to left but are lit from left to right.

The lighting of the Hanukkah candles represents bringing light into the world and commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabean revolt. It reminds Jews today to rededicate themselves to the faith. The growing number of lit candles each night represents the miracle of the oil lasting eight nights.

Kwanzaa Candles

The kinara and mishumaa saba (seven candles) are an important part of Kwanzaa celebrations. The kinara holds the seven candles and represents the original stalk from which humans sprang. The mishumaa saba candles symbolize the Seven Principles, or Nguzo Saba, which are values that reflect African culture and contribute to community building and reinforcement.

The candles are arranged in a special order on the kinara. In the center is a black candle representing the first principle Umoja (Unity). To the left of the black candle are three red candles representing the principles of Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) and Kuumba (Creativity). To the right of the black candle are three green candles representing the principles of Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose) and Imani (Faith).

On each night of Kwanzaa, the candles are lit from left to right while the principle associated with each candle is discussed. The lighting of the candles represents African values being brought to life. The lighting process culminates on the final night when all the candles, including the central black one, are burning together, demonstrating the interconnection of African principles and values.

(https://www.oprahdaily.com/life/a34894866/kwanzaa-principles-candles-meaning/)

Yule Log Candles

Yule log candles have their origins in ancient pagan winter solstice traditions, particularly of Norse and Celtic origins. The practice of burning a large wooden log dates back to pre-Christian times as a way to celebrate the return of longer days and the eventual end of winter (Yule Log – Wikipedia).

The term “Yule log” first appears in English in 1686, referring to these ancient customs. Traditionally, Northern European pagans would select a large hardwood log and decorate it with evergreens, fruits and nuts. This log would be burned over the course of the winter solstice festival, with the remnants kept to kindle the following year’s fire (The History of the Yule Log – WhyChristmas.com).

Burning the Yule log was symbolic of the return of the sun’s light and warmer weather. The fire’s light and warmth was intended to ward off evil spirits and misfortune. Keeping part of the log to relight the next year’s fire represented continuity across seasons and the cyclic nature of the year. Over time, with the spread of Christianity, these pagan solstice customs became absorbed into Christmas traditions.

Today, the practice of burning a Yule log is still observed in some areas, though largely for festive aesthetic and nostalgia rather than religious reasons. Log-shaped Yule candles are popular Christmas decorations that evoke memories of this ancient winter solstice tradition.

Christmas Wreath Candles

Christmas wreath candles are a festive and decorative type of candle designed to look like a holiday wreath. They are often scented with pine, cranberry, or other fragrances reminiscent of the Christmas season.

These candles feature wax molded into a round, circular, or oval shape to mimic the look of a Christmas wreath. The “wreath” portion is typically green, symbolizing pine, fir, or evergreen needles. Other decorative accents may be mixed in the wax as well, like sprigs of berries, pinecones, holly leaves, cinnamon sticks, and more. These details add texture, fragrance, and color to the candle.

Christmas wreath candles come in a wide variety of sizes, from small 2-3 inch mini wreaths to large 10+ inch statement wreaths. They can be displayed on tables, mantels, and elsewhere as festive seasonal decor. The candles often sit on a plate, tray, or bowl so the melted wax does not drip. Many people choose to burn their Christmas wreath candles throughout the holiday season to fill their homes with nostalgic scents and glowing, flickering light.

Overall, Christmas wreath candles provide a fun new twist on the traditional circular candle design. Their creative shape, piney scents, and symbolism of the wreath make them a popular decorative item for those who enjoy decorating for the Christmas season. They add a rustic, natural touch to holiday decor.

Conclusion

Candles play an important symbolic role during the Christmas season and holiday celebrations. The tradition of lighting candles carries deep meaning across many cultures and faiths. The Advent candles mark the weeks leading up to Christmas, bringing light to the darkness as we await the coming of Christ. The Christingle candle honors Jesus as the light of the world. Poinsettia candles represent the flowers that bloom in winter. Saint Lucy candles pay tribute to the feast day for this saint of light. The Hanukkah candles commemorate the miracle of oil lasting for eight nights. Kwanzaa candles symbolize the seven principles. Yule log candles invoke winter solstice traditions. Christmas wreath candles adorn homes with holiday decor. Through candlelight we express hope, faith, remembrance, and joy. The soft glow provides comfort and inspires reflection during this meaningful time of year. Candles remind us of inner light and the power of small flames to dispel darkness. Their warm, gentle flames bring us together through sacred rituals and cherished traditions.