Saturday, February 2, 2013

Candlemas at Our House

Candlemas, a nearly forgotten holiday which happens 40 days after Christmas, began this morning when our sons took the Christmas tree out to the curb and put the tree stand in the basement. 

Later, I had two girlfriends over and we made beeswax candles. None of us had made candles from scratch before, so we all learned together. I had bought the beeswax pellets this fall to dip autumn leaves and I had a whole lot left over.







I bought the metal candle molds and the pouring container at Michael's after work on Thursday. Candlemas, which is the Feast of the Presentation, marks the purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the presentation of Christ in the temple.

Years ago, when I was a young mother, I learned about this nearly lost holiday from a book, and I used to roll beeswax candles with our boys. Recently, I discovered this tradition is being followed in little pockets, such as  here and here and here. I was inspired to try it again.

We also used a couple of extra Mason jars for candle holders. We didn't know how to secure the wicks and one of my girlfriends suggested we use uncooked spaghetti. I didn't have any in the pantry, so we broke off a piece of uncooked lasagna noodle!



One of my girlfriends was unable to come because she is caring for her mother while her father is hospitalized and awaiting open heart surgery. "Light a candle for him," she asked.

And  I did.





8 comments:

  1. I remember rolling beeswax candles with my mom, though not attached to any church feast. The smell stays with me. Nice activity for a winter's day, Allison.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oy...anyone reading this that knows anything about candlemaking will see you cannot really put beeswax into metal molds. It won't come out of the mold! Stay tuned for how I get the wax out!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh no!! Let me know what you figure out! We made a couple more wonky ones in juice cans yesterday. I would like some proper molds one day though.

      Delete
    2. Will do. The metal molds are expensive and then I read that they don't work for beeswax...still researching....:)

      Delete
    3. Ginny: What I found out is yes beeswax can go in metal molds, but the candles come out more easily if one uses silicone spray before pouring the wax in.

      One should let the wax totally cool before trying to get the candle out (which I did) Desperation move is basically to melt the wax again by putting the whole thing in a metal bowl of warm water. This is where I might end up.

      I don't want to use parafin because it is a product of oil and I really like the idea of using beeswax instead. So I guess I will buy the silicone spray for my next effort.

      Delete
  3. Did you get them blessed? That's an old tradition at "Candlemas" and our priest did it yesterday after the feast day Mass. Of course, you can get them blessed anytime.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Still unblessed...once I get them out of the derned metal molds I will take them

      Delete
  4. I love this, Allison! I studied Candlemas a few years ago while researching Groundhog Day (my birthday). How fascinating to "unearth" the old nearly forgotten feast whence we get Groundhog Day.

    Maybe next year I will try making candles.

    ReplyDelete