Monday, November 25, 2013

Candles History

Candles have different colors, shape, size and smell. I can tell that I am one of candle lovers. I love candles, its been part of me to light different during my meditation. It helps my mind relax, and can helps remove stress as well, especially the scented candles.

Before I share the health benefits of candles, lets find out first how these candles started, and where. According to National Candles Association (NCA) the first candles were developed by the Ancient Egyptians, who used rushlights or torches made by soaking the pithy core of reeds in melted animal fat. However, the rushlights had no wick like a true candle. 
The Egyptians were using wicked candles in 3,000 B.C., but the ancient Romans are generally credited with developing the wicked candle before that time by dipping rolled papyrus repeatedly in melted tallow or beeswax. The resulting candles were used to light their homes, to aid travelers at night, and in religious ceremonies.



Colonial women offered America's first contribution to candlemaking, when they discovered that boiling the grayish-green berries of bayberry bushes produced a sweet-smelling wax that burned cleanly. However, extracting the wax from the bayberries was extremely tedious.

 As a result, the popularity of bayberry candles soon diminished.The growth of the whaling industry in the late 18th century brought the first major change in candlemaking since the Middle Ages, when spermaceti -- a wax obtained by crystallizing sperm whale oil -- became available in quantity. 


Like beeswax, the spermaceti wax did not elicit a repugnant odor when burned, and produced a significantly brighter light. It also was harder than either tallow or beeswax, so it wouldn't soften or bend in the summer heat. Historians note that the first "standard candles" were made from spermaceti wax.

Nowadays candles are getting popular not just because of colorful attraction but also the healing benefit and its magical powers uses to be a wishing candles for many. Explore our Magical Powers of natures and discover some helpful tips that you may use everyday.


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