Candles in European History

The first candles as we know them are credited to the Romans in the first century after Christ. Candles were introduced to different cultures as the invading legions of Rome conquered one European country after another after which the candle makers followed with their craft.

Religious Candles Were Forbearers to All Others

During the Middle Ages, wax candles were not used much because of expense, except religious candles for church and other ceremonies. In England, bed candles were designed to burn for only a half hour so that children wouldn’t ruin their eyes reading in bed by candle light.

Candles in the 13th century entered into a triumphant and prominent role in society. Special occasion candles became items of luxury in the courts and homes of the nobles. In the 13th century, making candles became a new and important European industry. Guilds of craftsmen who made candles went from house to house selling their wares. There were two separate branches of the guild: the craftsmen who made candles from wax and those who made candles from tallow.

In the 15th century, Sieur de Brex, a Parisian, began the process of making special occasion candles and religious candles in wooden molds which was quickly copied by others. In 1525, the citizens of Paris were ordered to hang lighted candles in front of their houses and shops. This gave Paris the distinction of probably being the first modern city to attempt street lighting.

During the reign of Louis XIV (1638-1715), candles were protected by state edict. Strict rules regulating weight, size and the cost of candles were set and applied to candle makers of the day. Not to be outdone by their French counterparts, candles came under the scrutiny of the nobles of Spain and England, who set strict rules for their candle makers too.

In 1709, England imposed a tax on candles that wasn’t repealed until 1831. Consequently, rush lighting was the economical form of light, since making one’s own candles was not only expensive but forbidden. One night, Oliver Cromwell found his wife sewing by the light of two candles and, horrified by her extravagance, quickly blew one of the candles out.

The modern day wick used in candles was invented by a Frenchman in 1825 who discovered that, by braiding the candle wick, it would bend over when burning, thus coming into contact with the hot, outer part of the flame. This ensured that the end of the wick burned completely and the candles would not develop large carbon deposits which were called “cauliflowers.”

Candles benefited from another Frenchman who introduced matches in 1827 which definitely shortened the time and effort of lighting candles. Until then, it was always important to keep the flame burning for, if the fire went out, to light candles, it would be necessary to run to a neighbor to borrow a few precious coals in an iron kettle. It took from two minutes to a half an hour to strike a spark by rubbing flint against steel. That spark was then transmitted to dry tinder and from there to a strip of wood called a “spunk.” To light candles, one would transfer the flame from the spunk to a paper “spill” which would be used to light the candles.

In 1839, a German named Reichenbach was the first to discover paraffin that could be used to make candles. His paraffin was distilled from wood but he couldn’t devise a method for obtaining a sufficient supply for the commercial production of candles. Candle makers far and wide are indebted to the brilliant Scottish scientist, Dr. James Young, as the creator of paraffin on a commercial scale in 1850.

References:

Candles That Earn, by Don Olsen, Peanut Butter Publishing, ISBN 0-89716-360-5