Candles

When you blow out of candles on your birthday cake, ou following a very old custom. People used to believe that by blowing out birthday candles they were blowing away all the bad luck of past years. That is why there is a candle for every year.

How the first candle came about is not known. Perhaps, as primitive man was roasting animals, he poked the carcass with a stick to test its tenderness. The stick covered with animal fat was easy o light and burned brightly. Thus, the torch was created. An improvement was made by dipping twigs in resin, pich, or oil to make the light last longer. Later, bundles of fat-dipped reeds took the palce or twigs and were called rushlights.

The early Egyptians made candles. Tehir funeral service were lighted and possibly perfumed by cone-shaped lumps of wax or tallow (animal fat) stuck in holders. Bands of materials that would burn were wound around the candles to keep the hot tallow or wax from spreading into a shapeless mass. The Egyptoans may also have used wicks.

Candle making slowly became and established art. The early Roman Catholic Church made special beeswax candles for their services. By the 13th century candles were in general use. In Paris and other cities candle makers traveled from door to door restocking each household’s supply of candles.