Few things are quite as comforting as candles. From reading by candlelight in the evening to burning a beautifully scented candle while you relax, candles can bring us joy and comfort on even the darkest of nights. It’s only fitting that our most time-honored holidays and traditions make use of these small but mighty lights. Here are some of the most stunning and meaningful traditions that use candles.
Diwali
Few celebrations are as beautiful as Diwali. Also called the Festival of Lights, Diwali is Hinduism’s biggest holiday, drawing in huge crowds of happy revelers every fall. It is the celebration of the triumph of light over darkness and of good over evil. On the third night of the five-day celebration, participants dress to the nines and light up their homes with oil lamps and candles, offering up worship to the goddess Lakshmi. The holiday creates joy and a sense of community to participants around the globe.
Hanukkah
When it comes to traditions that use candles, few are as exemplary as Hanukkah. Like Diwali, Hanukkah is also known at the Festival of Lights in the Jewish tradition. A central figure during Hanukkah is the menorah. This beautiful piece of tradition has nine candles, which represent the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days instead of just one during the Maccabean revolt. This revolt led to Jewish liberation, which is why Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah to this day. Participants celebrate for eight nights with gift-giving, prayer, and familial celebrations. All the while, the menorah burns proudly in the window for all passersby to see.
Christmas
35% of all candle sales are made during the Western holiday season, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that people make ample use of candles during Christmastime. Throughout the long, snowy December nights, candles are used for warmth and decoration and to spread light and joy. Seeing lit candles in a home’s windows is common this time of year, as is lighting tons of candles as decoration for Christmas meals. Even in the midst of winter, Christmas is a holiday filled with warmth, and candles only serve to further that feeling.
There’s nothing better than celebrating traditions with family and friends. The feeling of warmth that loved ones bring is unlike anything else, and the use of candles only serves to enhance it. The next time you want to recreate that cozy feeling, just pull out your book matches, find your favorite candles, and snuggle in as you enjoy the light. It’ll feel like your own personal celebration.