Easter Candles custom?

  • Thread starter Thread starter AnneElizabeth
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
A

AnneElizabeth

Guest
Hello,

This is the first time I think I posted in this section of CA. Forgive me for not knowing much about Eastern Catholicism or Orthodoxy. I’ve been studying a bit but I’m sure I have much to learn. I am not sure if my question pertains to something that is outside the Catholic church or not, but I even if it is that maybe some of you in the East would maybe know what I’m talking about.

I have seen photos on the internet of candles for sale for Easter. They usually have painting of flowers on them or are dipped into another color of wax, or maybe they have tiny silk flower spray attached to them. Sometimes they are sold by nuns in monasteries. Often too I have seen them with ribbons tied around them.
Code: 
My question is, is there religious significance to these candles?   If so, what?   And also are there specific guidelines as to how they may be decorated?   For instance, I've never seen an image or icon on any of these.    I was wondering if that would be bad in some way.

 They seem to be something cultural.  I guess I'm just wondering what it is about.  I think they are lovely and I'd like to know more about the custom.
Thanks in advance to any replies.
 
I’m not sure what you are describing. Maybe you could provide a link? When I think of Easter candles, I think of the Easter Candle at Church. It’s very large and white and has distinctive markings and symbols on it. It is initially presented during the Easter Vigil and represents the light of Christ coming to the world. During the Easter Vigil Mass it is inscribed with initials alpha and omega, stuck with five pieces of inscence, (representing the five wounds of Christ on the cross.) lit outside and then paraded through the Church, and then used to light all the candles of the parishoners for the Vigil Mass (representing the spreading of the Light of Christ throughout the nations and making it so people can read the Missal) and then dunked into the Baptismal font before being placed somewhere near the altar.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paschal_candle
 
Used as a symbol of the Light of Christ. Traditionally placed in baskets of Pascal Foods, to be blessed and enjoyed on the Great Feast. Candles are blessed on the Feast of the Encounter with The Elder Simeon (the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple), forty days after the Nativity (Christmas). This Feast normally occurs close to the preparation for or start of Great Lent.
 
AnneElizabeth said:
Hello,

This is the first time I think I posted in this section of CA. Forgive me for not knowing much about Eastern Catholicism or Orthodoxy. I’ve been studying a bit but I’m sure I have much to learn. I am not sure if my question pertains to something that is outside the Catholic church or not, but I even if it is that maybe some of you in the East would maybe know what I’m talking about.

I have seen photos on the internet of candles for sale for Easter. They usually have painting of flowers on them or are dipped into another color of wax, or maybe they have tiny silk flower spray attached to them. Sometimes they are sold by nuns in monasteries. Often too I have seen them with ribbons tied around them.
Code: 
My question is, is there religious significance to these candles?   If so, what?   And also are there specific guidelines as to how they may be decorated?   For instance, I've never seen an image or icon on any of these.    I was wondering if that would be bad in some way.

 They seem to be something cultural.  I guess I'm just wondering what it is about.  I think they are lovely and I'd like to know more about the custom.
Thanks in advance to any replies.
Click to expand...
Are they taper candles, from around 1-2 feet in length? People will sometimes use those for Easter. After the end of the Midnight Office on Holy Saturday, the lights are extinguished and the priest lights the paschal trikirion (three candles in a candelabra sort of thing), and the people light their candles from this flame. They keep these candles lit throughout the whole Resurrectional Matins and Liturgy, and some even drive home with the lit candles to use the flame to light their oil lamps. Decorated candles of this sort are also used for baptisms, and some other services.
 
AnneElizabeth said:
Yes, they are definitely taper candles, but I don’t think they are that big.

Here is one link: blessedcelebration.com/24_Frosted_Easter_Candles_s/83.htm

Another one- you have to scroll down. dianasdesserts.com/news/news2008-04.html

The picture has two red tapers with what appears to be a corsage (sorry can’t think of the right word to describe it)

some more: lenidesign.com.au/easter-candles/

Seems to maybe be a Greek Orthodox custom maybe? I just caught onto that now. 🤷
Click to expand...
These appear to be intended for processional use.
 
ByzCathCantor said:
These appear to be intended for processional use.
Click to expand...
Perhaps the Greeks are more gaudy than the Slavs, bit similar candles are used by the Greeks for baptisms and weddings. But even then I don’t know if I’ve seen people holding candles quite that ornately decorated for Easter.
 
Cavaradossi said:
Perhaps the Greeks are more gaudy than the Slavs, bit similar candles are used by the Greeks for baptisms and weddings. But even then I don’t know if I’ve seen people holding candles quite that ornately decorated for Easter.
Click to expand...
Perhaps so. My comment was largely drawn from reading the product descriptions on the first linked website.

FWIW - this Slav and those he has churched with over the years prefer a simple candle bearing the mark of the Cross for Pascal use - no ribbons,etc.
 
ByzCathCantor said:
Perhaps so. My comment was largely drawn from reading the product descriptions on the first linked website.

FWIW - this Slav and those he has churched with over the years prefer a simple candle bearing the mark of the Cross for Pascal use - no ribbons,etc.
Click to expand...
Most people I know just use a plain white candle for Easter. But for baptisms and weddings, all bets are off. 😃
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top