Christmas Candles from Sea to Shining Sea
The significance of Christmas candles across the globe
Christmas candles are prevalent in many Christmas traditions throughout the world.
Laura Legend looks at the significance of Christmas candles…
Christmas candles may include a single candle in a windowsill, a candelabra or an Advent wreath consisting of a circle of candles. Christmas candles and candle lanterns have historically been used in many cultures to decorate Christmas trees or to light the path to Christmas Mass.
In Germany, where the decorating of Christmas trees originated, Christmas candles adhered to the boughs of a Christmas tree using melted wax and were later placed in small lanterns that adorned the branches.
In Ireland it is a tradition to place a single candle in the window of a home and to light it on Christmas Eve. Many people even leave their doors open or unlocked. The lit Christmas candle is to symbolize that Mary and Joseph would be welcome in the home at Christmas and is representative of their difficulty finding lodging in Bethlehem.
In Germany wreaths with candles resembling the Advent wreath were used in pre-Christian times; however, the Advent wreath is said to be a Catholic and Lutheran tradition. Usually made of mixed evergreens, the Advent wreath symbolizes many things including victory over persecution, immortality, and Christ’s crown of thorns while the “never ending circle” of the wreath symbolizes eternity through the life, death and resurrection.
Four Christmas candles in the Advent wreath are representative of the four weeks of Advent. Three purple Christmas candles in the Advent wreath stand for prayer, penance and preparation through sacrifice and good works. The fourth candle is pink and represents rejoicing. In some Advent wreath candle lighting traditions a white candle is placed in the center of the Advent wreath. The white Christmas candle represents Christ as being the light of the world and is generally lit on Christmas Eve.
Luminarias are a Mexican Christmas tradition. The Christmas candles were originally placed in paper bags filled with sand to light the path to Christmas Mass. Today they are used as Christmas decorations in Mexico and Southwestern United States. As with the evolution of Christmas lights, modern day luminarias generally contain electric Christmas lights rather than the traditional Christmas candles.