Take a breather and relax as we celebrate Scented Candle Day on November 1. Scented Candle Day is the perfect day for you to let your hair down and relax. This day is celebrated to appreciate the calming effects of scented candles, and it is a day for relaxation, and it gives respite from the normal bustle of life. Take a calming bath and light a few candles to calm the jittery energy.
History of Scented Candle Day
Candles have been around for thousands of years. There is no exact date to pinpoint the origin of candlemaking, but there is documentation of different civilizations creating candles for more than 5,000 years. The ancient Egyptians are documented to make candles in 3000 B.C. from a combination of animal fat and reeds. The reed wasn’t like the wick we use today, but they used animal fat as the wax we use today. In around 500 B.C., the Romans made candles by dipping rolled papyrus made from the papyrus plant’s pith, and repeatedly melted the tallow (made from melted beef or mutton fat) or beeswax to form the first candlewick.
Evidence shows that around the world, other civilizations also used wicked candles. The Chinese made wicks from rolled rice paper, and their wax was made from a combination of insects and seeds or whale fat. The Japanese are said to make their candles from wax extracted from tree nuts, and in India, people made wax by boiling the fruit of the cinnamon tree. These were probably the first scented candles as they gave off a pleasant smell when burned.
Candles lost their popularity as essentially an illuminating material with the invention of the light bulb in 1879. Candles then became a decorative item, and first scented candles became available. By the mid-1980s, candles were established as a great mood enhancer, gifts, and decorative items.
Scented Candle Day timeline
The ancient Egyptians are documented to make a candle from a combination of animal fat and reeds.
The Romans make candles by dipping rolled papyrus which is made from the pith of the papyrus plant, and they repeatedly melt the tallow (made from melted beef or mutton fat) or beeswax to form the first candlewick.
Candles lose their popularity as essentially an illuminating material with the invention of the light bulb in 1879.
Candles are established as a great mood enhancer, gifts, and decorative items.
Candlemas Day FAQs
Is Candlemas the end of Christmas?
Although for most of us Christmas ends when we take our decorations down and have to go back to work. Candlemas, which comes 40 days after Christmas, is officially the end of Christmas.
Why are candles blessed at Candlemas?
The blessed candles serve as a symbol of Jesus Christ, representing his day of induction into Judaism.
What do people eat on Candlemas?
We hope you’re hungry. Candlemas is a chance for you to tuck into crepes, pancakes, cakes, and all grain-based foods.
Scented Candle Day Activities
Light a blessed candle
Religious and non-religious alike can follow Jesus' example in being a "light in the world." You can light a candle for goodwill, charity, or unselfishness, and be a part of the solution, for Candlemas and beyond.
Go to church
Even if you're not religious, you might learn something new by attending a mass celebrating the Feast of the Presentation. We're all better off if we learn more about each other's passions, including our respective religions.
Learn the history of the day
Candlemas Day has a rich and fascinating history throughout the world. Learn why it's such an important day within the Church and why it continues to be commemorated.
FIVE CANDLEMAS CELEBRATIONS AROUND THE WORLD
France and Belgium
Candlemas Day is celebrated with a specific method of preparing crepes.
Mexico
Candlemas Day is celebrated with tamales.
Puerto Rico
Bonfires and singing mark the end of Candlemas Day.
Luxembourg
Children roam the streets singing and hoping to receive a reward of candy or coins.
Peru
The fortnight-long period of Candlemas singing, dancing, and feasting comprises a festival that’s in South America’s top three, with Rio’s “Carnival” and Bolivia’s “Carnaval de Oruro.”
Why We Love Scented Candle Day
It’s one of the most historic Christian commemorations
It was first celebrated in the 4th century A.D. when the earliest sermons on the Feast were given in Jerusalem. It's a longstanding tradition!
It celebrates the “miracle of the virgin birth”
The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple is seen as confirmation of the miracle of the virgin birth, a key tenet of Christianity. It is the impetus for Mary becoming a key figure within the Catholic Church and celebrates purity.
Celebrations feature local food and culture
The Feast of the Presentation is celebrated throughout the world. In the city of Puno, Peru, for instance, the festival includes a "costume dance" featuring 20,000 dancers and 5,000 musicians.
Candlemas Day dates
Year | Date | Day |
---|---|---|
2024 | February 2 | Friday |
2025 | February 2 | Sunday |
2026 | February 2 | Monday |
2027 | February 2 | Tuesday |
2028 | February 2 | Wednesday |