Candles , as a source of light, warmth, and decor - are great, versatile items, and an interesting subject. We celebrate, pray, mourn, honor, decorate, etc.. with lighted candles in the background.
We use candles on festive occasions (holidays, anniversaries) , on solemn occasions (prayers , funerals, Remembrance ceremonies), as decorations and gifts, as emergency light during power outages, etc...
It has to be mentioned and emphasized that candles are a fairly good (not powerful) option of energy during emergency/survival times for lighting, cooking and heating. They can be stored in large quantities, produce minimal toxins when burned, and are easy to use.
The variety of candles seems to be endless. There are factory - made candles of various sizes , hand-made candles with natural ingredients, fragrant candles, colorful candles, survival candles. I've got samples of almost any of the above mentioned types, but I tend to use mainly the basic, factory- made candles.
We've just made it through the eight days of Hanukkah holiday, at the center of which there's a Menorah (lamp) and... Candles.
'Hanukkah' celebrates miracles done by God in ancient times to help the nation get rid of foreign oppressors, recover Jerusalem and rededicate the Second Temple.
Both adults and children love this holiday which is also called the 'Festival of Lights' (Hag Haurim)., especially as it is accompanied by eating of donuts, and singing of lovely, specific songs.
The Menorah or Hanukkia has 9 candle holders : one for each of the eight nights; the ninth candle is the 'shamash' (helper) ; it helps to light the other candles.
I love candles in the house, as they illuminate with a low glow creating an intimate atmosphere of warmth and relaxation. There are people who even believe that light of a candle drives away 'the evil eye'.
I trust you had a lovely Hanukkah.
ReplyDeleteLove candles, light one most nights but not always in summer. I prefer scented ones.
There's one tiny problem with Hanukkah - the donuts (sufganiot, in hebrew). The Hanukkah donuts are irresistible!
DeleteFor shabbat night, we use two beautiful Jerusalem candle holders made of silver. So then not only the candle light is relaxing, but the light flickers off the silver surrounds.
ReplyDeleteWell, silver is the finest material for candle holders!
DeleteMine are made of ceramics.There's a great variety of qualities and colors to choose from.
Thanks so much for the wonderful post. I hope you had a beautiful holiday and lots of good things to eat. A great time for reflection and candles have a way of keeping us calm.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ellie, for your kind words.
DeleteHanukkah is quite a lovely holiday with plenty of good things to eat. Candles help us, indeed, to reflect and relax.
Oh, I do hope you are relaxing. What is your favorite dish of the holiday?
DeleteMost Hanukkah foods are fried, as oil is part of the tradition of a miracle in ancient time.
DeleteAt a certain age, one only tastes them or eats the oven baked version.
My favorite is the jelly doughnuts (sufganiot) baked or fried, and the chocolate coins (usually given to children as Hanukkah gelt (money).
Oh, I would go for those. I had seen a recipe not long ago of the Sweet Potato pancakes. That looked interesting. Hope you are staying well and have a beautiful weekend.
DeleteIndeed, potatoes pancakes (called 'latkes') are a known, Hanukkah dish; but it's fried, and I try to keep away from fried food.
DeleteGood idea! Thanks so much for your comment. Hope you are having warm days there. We had our first snow, but I don't think it will stick around long. Although, some trick roads. Not my favorite, but usually, they do know how to treat the roads here for winter weather. All the best to a Beautiful December.
DeleteSo far, our weather was nice. We don't have snow here in winter, except sometimes on the high places. We do, however, have rain and winds and I am no fan of this kind of weather. I like sunny skies and warmth.
DeleteA beautiful December to you too!
Candles soothe and relieve stress. I have a few for decor as well.
ReplyDeleteThey say it is the scented candles that help relieve stress and reduce anxiety and depression.
DeleteThe flame and scent are captured by the senses and sent to the brain which works on them.
Thanks for sharing this lovely holiday time!
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome, Christine!
DeleteI recently began using scented candles, as Catarina mentioned, to soothe and relieve stress. They also help mitigate the doggie smell!
ReplyDeleteCandles can be beneficial in many ways.
DeleteThere is, by the way, a lot of info on the internet, regarding their uses and benefits.
I love traditions and your country certainly have some very important ones, going back for centuries.
ReplyDeleteOne can hardly ignore traditions - customs with significance passed down from generation to generation. Every country has them and does its best to preserve them.
DeleteI like them too. These photos are very pretty. Hope you had a happy Hannukah, Duta. 😊
ReplyDeleteHanukkah is a happy holiday with candle lighting, good food, lovely songs - and no religious restrictions. It's meant for everyone, young and old, to enjoy it and be happy.
DeleteI hope you had a beautiful Hanukkah, Duta. It's a lovely, meaningful holiday. And you are so right about the candles. They really are lovely in every way.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Jeanie. Hanukkah is a lovely holiday that makes people happy with its lights and songs. Candles are both lovely and highly necessary, and no house should be without them.
DeleteI love candles and have them in all colours and sizes and of course as a backup for electricity. During the earthquake we used them a lot.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to learn about Hanukkah
Hi, Marja. Glad to hear from you!
DeleteSince your city in N.Z. has experienced in the past a devastating earthquake, I'm sure you know quite a lot about candles as a backup for electricity.
Even without being a backup, candles are lovely, enjoyable items for many other reasons, and worthy of keeping them in the house.
Happy Hanukkah. As a kid, I love to play with candles during the Mooncake festivals. I still keep candles in my house just in case electricity supply is cut off.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nancy.
DeletePower outage is the main reason why people keep candles in the house, and that's OK. Without light, we are at loss.
I hope you had a happy Hanukkah.
ReplyDeleteWe have candles we use for display and others we use for lighting, we light one most nights ...
All the best Jan
Yes, thank you. If the weather is good and I feel good, then that's happiness for me.
DeleteCandles for display and lighting is the way to go.
Belated Happy Chanukah wishes to you, Duta, as I am a bit late in blog reading this week. We are candle fans in this house and always have a couple burning each evening. Now, we are enjoying pine-scented ones for the winterv season.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeletePine scented candles, sounds great! I myself like them plain with no fragrance, but to each his own, as they say.
Candles might be needed here very shortly...there is a storm a-brewing...the thunder rolls.
ReplyDeleteI've not burned candles for quite a while...used to once upon a time, as well as incense...but not longer.
It's winter here, in our parts, with rain and winds,so candles might be needed in power outages. Anyway, they are a necessary addition to the house regardless of season or weather.
DeleteA lovely post, DUTA. We usually light scented candles, but sometimes we don't agree on what smells good, and what doesn't. Candles definitely make a house feel more cozy, especially when the snow is flying outside (which it is here, today), and it's just too cold, to be anywhere other than inside. I hope you have a lovely day!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bica. And you've left a lovely comment.
DeleteI agree with you: candles make a house feel cozy, and scents might cause disagreement between people in the house as to which scent is better.
Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. Thank you for reading.
DeleteI agree, candles are always good to have on hand.
ReplyDeleteCandles is a subject upon which we all agree almost unanimously. Why almost, because there are people who are afraid of candles as causing fire. (Well, not if we watch the burning candles carefully).
DeleteI love candlelights, too. Gazing the light bring me a wonderful time. Happy weekend to you.
ReplyDeleteWhat's not to love? Their light makes one feel wonderful when looking at it.
DeleteNice subject about candles I loved
ReplyDeleteCandles are , indeed, a nice and vast subject. People never cease to take interest in their light benefits.
DeleteI also like candle light and the cozy feeling a flckering flame give off. This year I have discovered batter operated tea lights with replacable batteries, so I can illuminate the holiday decorations longer than usual. makes me happy.
ReplyDeleteHi, Linda. Good to hear from you.I'm not very familiar with Christmas decorations, but I'm glad you have discovered lights that would do a better job illuminating them.
DeleteIndeed, as you say, price is high, duration of burning low.
ReplyDeleteSadly, there's much talk lately about the rise in cost of many basic items.
Aún recuerdo el quince de Agosto de 1975, cuando le declaré mi amor, a la que podía ser la mujer de mi vida, en una romántica cena, a la luz tenue de dos velas; y aquí, aún seguimos juntos y enamorados como el primer día.
ReplyDeleteY estoy contigo en las múltiples utilidades que tienen las velas, además, es un producto que no es caro, y en casa nunca faltan, además de que las utiliza mi esposa mucho, ya que dos de mis hijos viajan mucho, y cada vez que lo hacen mi esposa les enciende una vela, hasta que llegan al destino, para que Dios los protega en el camino; vamos, que a las velas de casa no les falta el trabajo, ya que también las enciende, por ejemplo: cuando se presenta a una oposición, cuando emprenden laboralmente algo nuevo, cuando están enfermos, para que se recuperen pronto, etc.etc., y menos mal que por aquí no suele haber apagones de luz... Por lo expuesto verás, que las velas siempre me han acompañado.
Muchas gracias, Duta, por tu buen hacer y por lo acertado de los temas que publicas, ya que como vemos en los comentarios, dan para muchas y variadas opiniones.
Un cordial saludo, amiga.
How beautiful - your declaration of love to the woman of your choice, during a romantic dinner, at the light of two candles!!!
DeleteI like the use of candles your beloved wife makes- lighting them for the protection of your children's safety when they travel.
I also like the use of candles at your home when someone is sick, recovers, or undertakes something new at work, and needs good luck.
Thanks a lot, Manuel, for your very kind words.
ONe thing I never skimp on is candles, they create such a lovely light and atmosphere in a home. It was interesting to read about the Menorah. A lovely post, thanks.
ReplyDeleteGood for you! candles as 'atmospheric' items are beautiful and beneficial.
DeleteAs for the Menorah, it is an interesting subject in itself. Just as there's a variety of candles there is also a variety of candle holders (I might write in the future on that), made of various materials, cheap or expensive, but durable.