Bride and groom in wax, side by side: the marriage candle is lit to keep a union strong, and sometimes to bring one about.
Origin & Traditional Use
The marriage candle is a modern candle-shop form showing a couple in wedding clothes, used to bless, strengthen and guard a marriage. Red is chosen to bring passion back into it, white for blessing, commitment and reconciliation, and black when a marriage is over and the bond is to be released.
Uses by Tradition
Hoodoo & Rootwork
- Blessing a marriage: carve the couple’s names, dress the candle with a love or marriage oil and burn it on the anniversary.
- Proposal: a white marriage candle is burned with a name-paper beneath it to draw an engagement.
- Guarding the home: burn with a ring of salt around the base to keep outside interference from the couple.
Witchcraft & Folk Magick
- Releasing: a black marriage candle is burned to close a divorce and cut the old bond, then its remains buried away from the home.
- Handfasting: a white candle is lit on the altar for a handfasting or renewal of vows.
A Simple Working
- Choose a white candle to bless and strengthen your own marriage.
- Carve your name on one figure and your partner’s on the other.
- Dress the candle with a few drops of olive oil and a pinch of dried lavender.
- Stand it on a plate with a ring of sea salt around it.
- Light it together, if you can, and say your vows again in your own words.
- Let it burn down over several evenings.
- Keep the remains in a small box with your wedding papers.
Pairs Well With
- Sea salt: to ring the candle and guard the couple.
- Lavender: for peace in the home.
- Red thread: to tie the figures together.
- Rose oil: for dressing love and renewal work.
Lore & History
Roman brides were led to the groom’s house in an evening procession by torchlight, and the wedding torch became the emblem of Hymenaeus, god of the wedding song, who is shown in art carrying a torch. In the Orthodox wedding service the couple still hold lit candles throughout the ceremony.
What You Receive
A marriage candle moulded as a bride and groom side by side: 6″ in red, black or white, or 7″ in white. Moulded candles vary slightly and may need levelling at the base.
Did You Know?
“Hymeneal”, an old word for anything to do with marriage, comes from Hymen or Hymenaeus, the Greek god of the wedding.
| Weight | N/A |
|---|---|
| Option | 6" Red, 6" Black, 6" White, White (7") |
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