Window Candle History
The candle in the window is an old tradition that has many meanings. The history of the tradition depends on the region that is practicing the tradition. Does this Spark an idea?
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Colonial Times
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In Colonial times, the candle was placed in the window during holidays to represent the family waiting to welcome an absent family member back into the warmth of the hearth.
Ireland
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In Ireland, the candle references back to the night Mary and Joseph looked for a place for the baby Jesus to be born. The candle symbolizes the welcoming of travelers into Irish homes during the Christmas season.
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Austria
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The Austrian tradition refers to a cobbler and his wife who placed a candle in their window every night to welcome weary travelers during a period of war. Everyone else in the town suffered great losses, while the couple flourished. One night the townspeople all decided to place candles in their windows. The following day, a message came that the war was over.
Religious
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Candles were sometimes placed in windows of churches and homes to signify the presence of a religious ceremony at that location.
Colonial Williamsburg
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In 1934, the foundation president of Colonial Williamsburg ordered the employees to find a Christmas tradition that was fitting of the historic village. An employee recommended candles in the windows, a tradition his family had used since the late 1800s. The president agreed and the candles were lit in the four public buildings in Williamsburg. It became such a big deal that visitors requested candles to take home to place in their home windows.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Brenda Clarke
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Comments
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puddlduc
Dec 11, 2010
The candles in my windows stay in my windows all year long. This is just my family's small waying of paying respect, and hoping to remind others to pay their respect and to remember our US military men and women in our prayers. My candles will be put away when they come home. Maybe you will consider doing the same to daily remind yourself and your neighbors to remember those who give so much to keep us safe.
