A Brief History Of The Humble Candle

By Samantha Grey


Man, lady, fire, water and a lot of things attempting to eat woman and man, that is all there had been in the beginning! Fire was a weapon for folk in those distant times. It was maybe man's main kind of protection from rapacious animals. It also served to cook their food, light their shelter and glaringly keep them warm. This rudimentary need for fire in and around our lives is in our DNA. It fulfills some kind of primeval deep need. Open fires, wood burners etc are getting more popular today. In a similar way with candles. It is an animal thing helping make our houses feel more cozy and inviting. This text concentrates on a short recap of candles, the societies that used them and the individuals that made them.

Traditional Candles Candles from beeswax have been recorded as early as 3000 BC in Egypt. The Chinese made candles from the fat of Whales in the Qin Dynasty ( 221-206 BC ) and in early Japan And China, tapers made with wax from insects and seeds, wrapped up in paper are believed to have been utilized. The wax from boiling cinnamon was employed for church candles in traditional India. In the first century Anno Domini, Groups of folk in the Pacific Northwest fused oil from the Eulachon ( or "candle-fish" ), to make a basic candle. Candles are a traditional product originally made out of necessity for light in houses and to be used in spiritual practices.

One - 1300 AD Fat candles were employed in traditional Rome. Obtained from suet, a crumbling animal fat which was intensely Smokey in burning. Nevertheless fat was widely available and simple to process into candles. The smoke produced was forgiven for the usability of the light. Fat candles were used at altars, shrines, in churches and were common in houses. Making fat candles was reasonably easy. Liquefied in a pot, the fat was then poured into molds made from bronze. Excess wax was caught in a trough and returned to the cooking pot. A basic rope made of the pith of rushes was employed and postponed from a horizontal rod over the mold when the fat is poured in.

1300 AD - present Fat was the standard candle material utilized in Europe in the late middle ages. The Fat Chandlers Company of London was formed in about 1300 AD and in 1456 was given a coat of arms. The Wax Chandlers Company purchased its charter in 1484. By 1415, fat candles were employed in street lighting. The trade of the chandler is also recorded named "smeremongere", since they oversaw the construction of sauces, vinegar, soap and cheese. The upsetting hint of fat candles is due to their high glycerin content. Wealthier corporations like churches, merchants and Royalty used candles from beeswax, as the smell was typically less upsetting. The scent of the producing process of fat candles was so upsetting it was banned by ordinance in 1 or 2 towns of this period of time. In the 1800's paraffin was found. Less expensive and without the strong hint of fat, paraffin shortly became the staple material for candle making. Mechanization of the method of candle making followed and shortly inexpensive candles were available to the masses.

Candle Making As A Profession The candle maker is known as a Chandler. In England and France candle making had become a guild graft by the 14th century. These candle makers (chandlers) went from house to house making candles from fats saved from the kitchen or sold their own candles from within their shops.

Latest Market And Candle Making Developments In the 1990's, new candle waxes were being developed due to an atypically serious demand for candles. In the U.S, rural chemists developed soybean wax. Soy wax was a softer and slower burning wax than paraffin. On the opposite side of the planet, Palm wax was being developed to be used in candles. Developments continue apace today with better wax mixes being developed for cleaner burning, more supportable candles. Aromatic candles are popular today with a projected worldwide valuation of $2.5 Bill in 2005. From the common-or-garden cavern fire to perfume in the home, candles are an enduring symbol of love that makes us feel in touch with our traditional past.




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