History of Candles and Their Many Uses
The history of candles goes back thousands of years. They were used to light the way of our ancestors, they were used in rituals, exorcisms and to even find treasures. However, where candles came from is a mystery. One of the earliest mentions of candles in history is in Egypt as early as 3000 BC where It is said that beeswax candles were used.
Early Egyptians also used taper candles, made of rushes and covered with tallow to help keep their shape, to perform a ritual whereby they used their dreams to seek answers. This was called “Dreaming True”.
To do this, an individual sat in a dark cave and stared into a flame, facing the south. After he reached a state whereby he saw whatever God he was seeking, he would retire, confident that that God would appear to him in his dreams and the answers he sought would then be answered.
Ancient tribes also found that meditation and even precognition could be achieved by using candles to enter an altered state of consciousness. By concentrating on the flames, they could see mysterious things, talk to Gods or talk to the spirits of their loved ones who have passed on.
The history of candles in the Church is a long one. Because candles were used by the pagans in their rituals, the Roman Catholic Church looked down on their use. However, by the fourth century, the use of candles and lamps in Christian rituals had become commonplace.
The use of candles on the alter was not allowed until the late Middle Ages when the Catholic Church decided that using consecrated holy candles would be useful in blessings, in the absolution of sins or the exorcism demons.
Candles were often used
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