the CANDLE

It is perhaps unsurprising that candles have long been an integral part of winter festivals. When the days are at their shortest and gloomiest, a li!le glow from a wick can bring not only light but warmth and hope to a room and, as such, the candle’s association with wintry celebrations goes back to ancient times.

Candles were among the few presents exchanged when the Romans celebrated Saturnalia, a festival dedicated to the Roman god Saturn from 17th-23rd December. All work would cease and people would mark the occasion by partying, feasting and gi" giving that culminated on the winter solstice. The candles would have been simple white examples, named cerei, and were given to celebrate the fact that the shortest day of the year would soon pass, and the light would return again. Since that time, candles have taken on key roles in many a mid-winter religious holiday, including Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and, of course, Christmas.