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Date in 2020 | October 17, 2020, Saturday |
Celebrated: | In Russia and other countries of the world |
Meaning: | Getting to know romance and contemplating the mysterious beauty of a burning candle |
Traditions: | Carrying out romantic dinners, warm meetings with friends |
A day of candlelight gatherings is scheduled for October 17th. This is an excellent attribute for equipping a romantic evening, which was often used for mystical rituals. With the beginning of the history of candle creation in the 13th century, a gradual increase in the popularity of the attribute is also associated. Previously, fat was used for production, later paraffin, but due to the high cost, only the upper strata of society used candles. But already at the beginning of the 20th century, representatives of all segments of the population began to actively acquire them.
Traditions
According to tradition, on this day people look for a place to hold meetings, buy candles, and take care of safety rules. These can be paraffin or wax candles, with or without scent. Everyone chooses the shape and color according to their taste preferences. The main requirement in the process of creating a cozy environment is maintaining comfort. Everyone plans their evening the way they would like to spend it. Some people like noisy gatherings with music and fun, while others prefer quiet romantic meetings. People can independently determine the theme of the evening and create guest lists.
At meetings, interesting events are often discussed, games are played, those who are lonely dive into themselves to rethink their own position in life, or simply dream while looking at the sparkling flame of a candle.
Interesting Facts
- The creators of candles were the ancient Egyptians. In search of a light source for painting tombs and frescoes, 5 thousand years ago they created the first papyrus candle. It was rolled up and immersed in a container of fat; salt was added to the fat to reduce soot. In China, instead of papyrus, rice paper and dry cereal plants mixed with insects were used. In India, the ancestors of candles were made from the fruits of a brown tree; Japan used special varieties of walnut.
- At the beginning of the 13th century, candles were used to tell time. To do this, we used meter-long candles, with a scale applied along the entire length. Three candles burned during the night, and in winter this number increased. Sometimes small weights were hung on a candle; when the candle burned out, they fell into the candlestick, making a ringing sound; this invention became a kind of alarm clock.
- Ancient Indian tribes in North America used small fish from the salmon family as a candle. They caught candle fish (eulachon) and dried it; it contained a lot of fat, so by threading a wick through it, they could use it as a candle.
- In France, courtesans used candles as a "timer"; when it burned down, the client's time was up, so he left the brothel or paid to extend the session. On average, a candle burns out in 7-8 minutes.
- The largest candle in the world was lit on the Ashura holiday in one of the kingdoms - Bahrain. Its length reached 73 meters, its weight was 3 tons, and the total number of wicks was 14 thousand. This record was included in the Guinness Book of Records.
- According to manufacturers' data, it can be determined that 96% of candles are purchased by the female half of the population. Many of them use candles at least once a week.
- In the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, built by the Castilian king, believers are offered to light virtual candles, which are located on a special panel, for making a symbolic donation of 1.4 euros.
Is it possible to light church candles at home without prayer?
A candle is one of the main attributes of Orthodox Christianity, a symbol of a person’s faith and his sacrifice to God. In addition, the light of a lit candle is an image of Divine light, as well as the Savior Jesus Christ Himself, Who in the Church is called the Light of the world.
Traditionally, candles are used in worship, as well as during rituals and sacraments. In addition, in churches, candles are also used by ordinary believers - when commemorating the dead (placed on the eve), various private prayers. However, church candles can and should be used not only in churches; this must also be done at home.
In this regard, believers, especially beginners, often have questions, the most common of which are: is it possible to store and light church candles at home and how to properly burn a church candle at home?
According to the established tradition in Orthodoxy, it is possible and even necessary to store and light church candles at home. True, this must be done taking into account a number of points.
Secondly, candles, as well as lamps, are lit in any vital situation, when a person prays in front of the images for health, for healing, for choosing a life partner or profession, for deliverance from grief and sadness, etc. And, of course, a lit candle is appropriate when praying for protection from dark, evil spirits.
Answering the question - is it possible to burn church candles at home? – it must be said that if the candle does not burn out completely during prayer, it can be blown out and lit another time. You should approach this rationally and in a Christian way, without any superstitions or occult views.
It often happens that believers keep some special candles from the church at home, the use of which also raises questions. So, for example, if an Easter candle is stored in a house or apartment, left over after the Easter glow, then it is better to light it and let it burn out.
It is also a common situation when wedding candles with which spouses once participated in the Sacrament of Marriage are kept in the house. Such candles are a symbol of unity and common prayer of Orthodox spouses. Traditionally, they are kept near icons or in any other pious place in the house. They are lit on especially important occasions for the family - on a wedding anniversary, on other joyful or mournful days. If such candles become unnecessary, then it is better to give them to the nearest temple.
By the burning of the flame of an ordinary candle lit in a house, you can learn a lot about the energy of the home and its inhabitants. So, if candles are burning clearly and calmly in your house, the signs promise a calm life. A candle flame is serene near a person - the absence of damage, evil eyes and other negative programs.
Does the tongue of fire sway from side to side? There is no need to count on peace. This is a belief in travel, adventure, and exciting events. The flame rises in a spiral or describes a circle - a warning. Enemies are making plans and are going to harm you. A weak light means illness.
A crack is a bad sign. If candles crack near you, they warn of damage. They go out as soon as you get close - a sign of imminent death, but about such superstitions and the removal of their negativity - a little lower.
Shoots sparks - the arrival of an evil person in the house. Hisses - to disappointment. When a candle smokes, it burns negative energy. A blue flame warns of death in the house. But blue fire also indicates that there is a spirit in the room. One version of superstition combines both options. The spirit of a deceased relative has appeared in the house and will soon take someone with him.
The knowledge described above can be used to diagnose your home and biofield. You can also find out the guest's intentions. Light the candle and follow the flame. You can cleanse your house of negativity by walking around its perimeter with a candle in your hand. Stay where it begins to smoke and the fire becomes restless. Baptismal and wedding candles are watched to predict the future.
From time to time it is worth lighting candles in the house. They bring comfort, reconciliation, and get rid of negativity, quarrels and scandals. Once upon a time, every house had a source of living fire, a hearth. In modern realities, this has become difficult to obtain; candles are sold in almost every store.
Candles need to be lit correctly. So, you cannot light more than two others from one candle. This brings poverty into the home. The same rule exists for splinters or matches. Set it on fire from a stove fire - to poverty. Don't burn at all? So it will rain.
You can light incense from a candle or, for example, a piece of paper with wishes or a list of what you want to get rid of. But you can’t smoke from its flame. This portends trouble.
There are many superstitions about extinguishing candles. It is believed that they cannot be blown out. One of the superstitions explains the ban by the resentment of the fire element for being expelled with the help of the air element. Another connects it with the sign of spitting in the fire. Extinguish candles with your fingers or special caps. This is especially true for candles near which prayers or conspiracies were read.
It is customary to blow out only those on the birthday cake. This brings good luck to the birthday person, according to birthday signs. If he makes a wish at the same time, it will come true.
Accidentally extinguishing a candle means unexpected guests. True, it is not a fact that they will be pleasant.
In general, if a candle goes out on its own, it is unfortunate, even death. Even if it burned near a seemingly healthy and strong person. But this sometimes means the completion, the death of a certain business, project, relationship.
During the wedding, the newlyweds are given a candle in their hands. If one of them goes out in the hands of the bride or groom, the person will die soon. According to other beliefs, the marriage will soon fall apart, there will be betrayal of one of the partners.
If a candle placed for health goes out, this also foreshadows the death of the person for whom it was placed. You cannot put out such a candle. Therefore, it is necessary to look after the candles placed for health until they burn out. They can be removed by church servants. Healthy candles that have not burned out completely can be taken by black magicians for their business.
When it comes to a candle lit for the deceased, the sign changes its meaning to positive. By extinguishing the candle, the soul of the deceased gives a sign that it has found peace in the afterlife.
An extinguished baptismal candle promises a child a life full of difficulties. There is another opinion on this issue. According to him, the baptism of the child was necessary - it removed the mortal threat hanging over him from the baby.
A dream in which a candle goes out most often has the same meaning as a sign. But other events from the dream also influence here. By interpreting them, you can get the full meaning of the dream.
Dropping a candle from your hands or, for example, a table means an imminent wedding. If a candle falls in a church, this promises trouble for the person who dropped it in the near future. If it falls out of the candlestick, expect problems.
If you fell yourself, it’s bad news. Sometimes it predicts an unexpected unpleasant event. A couple lives where the candle spontaneously fell; the family is on the verge of divorce.
A broken candle, like broken dishes, should not be used. But you can make a new product from it by melting wax or paraffin and pouring it into a mold. If it is a special candle, for example, a wedding candle, its damage indicates damage. Moreover, we mean a really serious negative, and not an everyday evil eye.
If a candlestick bursts, it means the loss of a loved one. But this sign is true only when this could not happen for adequate reasons such as overheating. She can promise a quarrel, separation and even the death of a friend or relative. To neutralize the meaning, the fragments of the candlestick should be thrown away on the street without touching them with your hands.
If you believe one of the superstitions, a candle placed for the health of a dead person will not burn. But it's not worth checking. Anyone who lights a candle for the health of the deceased will not live long.
The remains of wedding candles are stored in the red corner, near the icons. Whose candle is smaller will die earlier. They are lit during difficult childbirth, serious illness of spouses or their children, serious quarrels, problems with conception. An ancient wedding sign - the one of the spouses who holds the candle higher will be the head of the family.
In the old days there was a ritual. If a girl lights a candle in the church before everyone else on Intercession, she will soon get married. Epiphany and Easter candles have the ability to help women in labor, drive away illnesses and reconcile people. And the Thursday ones drive out witches and destroy their spells. Black magicians use inverted church candles to appeal to the forces of darkness.
Contemplating the fire of church candles helps to calm down and clear your thoughts. You can view it both in the temple and at home. You don't need a lot of time for this - ten minutes is enough.
Sometimes it happens that a person’s clothes or hair catches fire from a candle flame in a temple. This indicates the influence of dark forces on him. It is likely that there is damage, a love spell or a strong evil eye.
In America they believe that you can find a drowned person in a pond with the help of a candle. To do this, you also need a loaf of bread - you need to insert a candle into it and then let it float on water. A piece of bread with a candle will stop where the drowned man lies.
During the celebration of Samhain, or Halloween, there should be burning candles on the windowsills. They drive away trouble and evil spirits from the house. For the New Year, it is recommended to place green candles on the festive table. They attract good events. Lighting pyramid candles for Christmas brings good luck for the whole year.
Wax candles are not the best gift. Wax perfectly absorbs information and is used in witchcraft. Therefore, it is not customary to give candles made from it. Paraffin does not have this property and decorative candles made from it can be given and accepted as gifts.
What to do if you find a candle? Do not lift or touch it with your hands. It could have been used in a ritual, the details of which you know nothing about. It’s also not worth stepping over such a candle. Especially if it lies at a pedestrian intersection.
In general, a lot of beliefs are associated with a candle. This is a mystical object, constantly used not only in everyday life, but in witchcraft and religious services. Candles can not only predict the future and remove negative energy, but also help the black sorcerer bring his enemy to the grave.
Candles have the ability to cleanse the house from an energetic point of view.
The element of fire cleanses the house of many contradictions, anger and abuse.
There is a difference between church candles and some other candles.
Many monasteries have candle production and make candles with prayer on their lips and in their heads, which certainly charges the products with information - these are significant differences.
But, if you are not ready to connect to the Christian Egregor, then you should not use such candles at home.
There are many views on these things, but the general rule tells you that buying candles in a church is 3-4 times more expensive than buying monastic candles at Orthodox exhibitions or in the monasteries themselves.
Answer yourself the question: are they made more by machines or people?
and from what are they poured - paraffin or wax, as in many monasteries?
The candles that were given to you in the temple can be lit during prayer. Light candles when you fulfill your morning and evening rules, when you pray throughout the day or at night prayer.
A candle is a symbol of our prayerful burning towards God and a reminder to us of how zealous we should be when standing prayerfully before the Creator of all things - the Lord God.
Read about why you need to light candles in the temple: