The Magic of Flame

He shouldn’t have stolen the matches. When the fun of lighting them and then tossing them to the ground in the vacant lot became lame, he and his buddy lit a big piece of tissue paper. After quickly flinging it to the ground, the field’s tall, dead grass turned into an inferno. It spread to the neighbouring city block which soon became a charred mess. That was in 1932 and my dad was 5 years old. In his memoir, he described returning home “trembling and shaking”. So it’s not surprising that I didn’t grow up with candles in our home.

But there’s something magical about fire, isn’t there? So today, I’d like to highlight the reasons we’re attracted to flame.

We love the warm, soft glow that enhances the atmosphere of a room (and hides dust bunnies!)

Especially in our weary winter’s darkness, lighting a candle offers a sense of hope, a feeling of peace.

These waxy wonders often evoke a sense of nostalgia and tradition. What’s a birthday cake without candles? Have your thoughts ever been lifted heavenward in a candle-lit worship service or wedding ceremony?

Most evenings (especially in the winter), I light an unscented, chunky candle on the dinner table. It enhances the meal; we eat slowly, more mindfully and with gratitude.

And there’s nothing more luxurious than a candlelit bubble bath!

If you’re like my dad and are concerned with safety, there’s some really good battery operated ones you can buy. However, be aware that you do get what you pay for. I like the ones that have a fluttering “wick” like LumaBase. Totally worth the splurge.

By the way…

Our dear Columbian friends, Carlos and Angelica have lived with us for over a year now. Today, on Día de las Velitas, or “Little Candle Day”, people around Colombia light colourful candles and place them all over their towns – on sidewalks, balconies, and windowsills. Timings of when the candles are lit are mixed across Colombia, some lighting them on the evening of December 7th, some light theirs at midnight on the 8th December. Día de las Velitas is considered an unofficial start date to the Christmas season.