The history of Christening, Baptism and Unity Candles.
Christening, Baptism & Unity Candles are a beautiful way to celebrate age long traditions. You get to follow some of the ways laid down by our religion, our family or our culture. Being a part of all this, the Christening, the Baptism and the wedding, replicating these actions to even a little level are an amazing experience that makes you feel as though you are part of a community.
This is also where the idea about the Christening/Baptism candles and the Unity Candle for the wedding come along. While some feel it is an age old concept, there are others of a slightly different opinion. Read on to discover more about these!
The Christening/ Baptism Candles
Baptism is an act that symbolises one’s entry into the circles of Christianity, the acceptance of faith in Jesus and from thence on the religious duties and the religious journey officially begins.
An interesting part of this is that baptism is done for all those who enter the faith of Christianity for the first time. Therefore, it is done for children and adults likewise when they first step into the boundaries of Christianity. The baptismal ceremony is performed to mark the beginning of this journey and in this either the parents, grandparents or the godparents bring the baptismal candle up to the front and this candle is given to the child as a sign and souvenir of this ceremony. The candle’s history originates from the fact that candles are believed as the indicators of divine presence in Christianity.
So what does the baptismal candle signify and where did it originate from? While very few can pin down exactly where the concept began or where the string of history unfolds, there are a few speculations regarding it. Some say that it figuratively represents the light of faith that is entering one’s life, the light do guidance to help show the way in the hour of darkness. Apart from this, from a religious point of view the fire of the candle may also represent the divine light of the Christ himself, particularly because this candle’s comes from the Paschal candle. The Paschal Candle is an important reminder of the victory of Christ over evil, thereby acting as a shield to ward off every evil that may come along the child’s way.
One has the option to either choose a candle on their own or use the one that the church provides. The latter will usually be a simple, basic cancel whereas the people who bring the candle to the child during the ceremony prefer to bring their own personalised candle with classic decorations and designs as it is a memorable commodity that the child will treasure for the ages. The very same candle can also used later in all the church events the child goes, thus further explaining why it would be a good idea to get a customised candle.
Non-religious events also use a personalised candle for the “naming day” ceremony.
Unity Candles
The religious Unity Candle Set are used in weddings to honor the Holy Communion between two people. The idea behind the unity candle is a very beautiful concept that is directed towards representing the union of two people, two families as one. Some say that the concept of a unity candle originated around 30 to 40 years back, as an extension of Christianity, however, the history behind its existence is the same.
While traditionally the bride and the groom bring a candle each and light it from the pastoral candle, there are two options that one may choose from. Some people believe that the bride and groom should bring their baptismal candles and light them from the pastoral candle, as a sign do things coming full circle. These very candles marked their introduction in this circle and as separate individuals, being lighted from the very same pastoral candle.
Another option that people prefer nowadays is to have new, separate customized candles made for the bride and the groom matching their color schemes or having a personal message incorporated on it. In this set, there are 3 candles – 2 smaller candles representing the two families and then a larger candle that the couple light together, uniting their families. The bride and groom then bring their lighted family candle to the unity candle and light it together. The unity candle is thus always the largest candles. And why should it not be? It after all, is the representation of the Holy Union of the bride and groom as one entity. The unity candle is lit up by the couple together and this signifies how two individuals, who came from separate ways and backgrounds united finally as one, also how their families too used to be unrelated and are now sealed together under this Holy Communion.