It is believed that the earliest known candles that had originated in China in 200 BC were made from whale fat, while the European versions which came out in 400 AD consisted of various forms of natural fat, tallow and wax. The 18th century meanwhile introduced a superior version made out of spermaceti or oil produced by sperm whales, and a cheaper alternative that made use of rapeseed oil and colza oil as well. Paraffin became popular in the 1830's and is still being used as the most popular material to date, among others like beeswax and soy.
Candle use has been closely related to faith, as most religions have ceremonies and rituals that call for candle-lighting. Buddhists believe that the light symbolizes the light of the Buddha's teaching, while Christians and Roman Catholics usually burn candles in prayer or during ceremonies such as the Holy Mass. Meanwhile, advocates of other religions like Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox see candles as representations of the people who are offering themselves to God.
During recent times, however, candles are being used in a lot of different ways aside from what our ancestors have been accustomed to; some practical, and some aesthetic in nature. The very obvious one is their use as a decorative element, whether at home or some place else, like an event venue. Planners and vendors have since come up with plenty of creative methods to set up attractive event decors that incorporate candlelight, successfully giving the conventional a modern twist.
Candles have also become a popular option for event favors, especially for baby showers, christenings and weddings. Since the material used for candle-making can be easily colored and modeled in a variety of ways, these can be fashioned to look like certain objects like baby bottles and teddy bears (perfect as baby shower favors), or wedding cakes even. The variety of design makes it easier for planners to pick out something that will match their event's theme or color scheme.
And let's not forget how candles are also used in alternative medicine. Different kinds of plant oils or essential oils have been processed to create aromatherapy candles, some of which have helped people in restoring energy and reducing anxiety, as well as clearing their sinuses. On the other hand, a special massage therapy called ventosa sometimes makes use of candles during the procedure. Ventosa massage therapy makes use of heat and (usually) glass cups which are placed on a person's back to regulate the flow of energy throughout the body. People who have gone through this procedure said they felt a soothing relief in their bodies afterwards and are recommending others to try it at least once.
There's also this procedure called ear-candling which claimed to be able to suck out the wax and toxins out of a person's ear, but it's also been frowned upon by medical experts after findings proved that it could only cause harm without actually bringing about some results.
With these improvements and discoveries, it makes one wonder what more we could create or do with candles in the future, although I'm personally hoping for more medicinal uses that a lot of people can benefit from.
Candle use has been closely related to faith, as most religions have ceremonies and rituals that call for candle-lighting. Buddhists believe that the light symbolizes the light of the Buddha's teaching, while Christians and Roman Catholics usually burn candles in prayer or during ceremonies such as the Holy Mass. Meanwhile, advocates of other religions like Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox see candles as representations of the people who are offering themselves to God.
During recent times, however, candles are being used in a lot of different ways aside from what our ancestors have been accustomed to; some practical, and some aesthetic in nature. The very obvious one is their use as a decorative element, whether at home or some place else, like an event venue. Planners and vendors have since come up with plenty of creative methods to set up attractive event decors that incorporate candlelight, successfully giving the conventional a modern twist.
Candles have also become a popular option for event favors, especially for baby showers, christenings and weddings. Since the material used for candle-making can be easily colored and modeled in a variety of ways, these can be fashioned to look like certain objects like baby bottles and teddy bears (perfect as baby shower favors), or wedding cakes even. The variety of design makes it easier for planners to pick out something that will match their event's theme or color scheme.
And let's not forget how candles are also used in alternative medicine. Different kinds of plant oils or essential oils have been processed to create aromatherapy candles, some of which have helped people in restoring energy and reducing anxiety, as well as clearing their sinuses. On the other hand, a special massage therapy called ventosa sometimes makes use of candles during the procedure. Ventosa massage therapy makes use of heat and (usually) glass cups which are placed on a person's back to regulate the flow of energy throughout the body. People who have gone through this procedure said they felt a soothing relief in their bodies afterwards and are recommending others to try it at least once.
There's also this procedure called ear-candling which claimed to be able to suck out the wax and toxins out of a person's ear, but it's also been frowned upon by medical experts after findings proved that it could only cause harm without actually bringing about some results.
With these improvements and discoveries, it makes one wonder what more we could create or do with candles in the future, although I'm personally hoping for more medicinal uses that a lot of people can benefit from.
