Bayberry Candles, the Original "Green" Lighting

Burning a bayberry candle to the nub around the holidays is said to bring good luck all through the coming year. Some surprising history on the bayberry candle resulted from our research into that 300-year-old tradition.

Saranac Lake, NY (PRWEB) November 13, 2009 -- Burning a bayberry candle to the nub around the holidays is said to bring good luck all through the coming year. Whether or not that is a 300-year-old custom, it is documented that bayberry candles were among the most prized candles in 18th century colonial America. Prior to oil lamps and electricity, a candle was the only alternative for illuminating work or entertainment after sunset. Unfortunately for 17th and 18th century colonists, the commonly used tallow candles were often more trouble than they were worth.

A new, short history of the bayberry candle provides interesting details on how the advantages of the bayberry candle and of the bayberry bush - or southern waxmyrtle bush - most likely led to the increasingly popular tradition of giving and enjoying bayberry candles during the holidays. The history, with links to associated references, is available online at the Holmes & Associates research blog - Adirondack Research Notes (http://adkresearch.wordpress.com/2009/11/04/bayberry-candles). The history can be quoted in part or in its entirety.

Tim Holmes, Research Director at Holmes & Associates, became curious about the tradition when he found most of the online references providing little specific detail on how the tradition originated. Although a 300-year-old-man could not be located to verify our conclusions, many of the pieces to the puzzle are starting to fall into place. One of the first written accounts of bayberry candles was in 1698 and exclaimed that instead of "stinking" they really do "perfume like incense." Most significant seems to be that the utility of the bayberry to the colonists went far beyond candle making. Perhaps of most relief to the colonists was the discovery that its crushed leaves serve as a mosquito repellent when rubbed on the skin and have a very pleasant scent besides.

Altogether, the evidence and history indicates that the gift of a newly made bayberry candle on New Year's Eve not only provided consistent, smoke-free lighting for the recipient, it also would have carried the same best wishes for their health and well-being that the bayberry plant itself had come to represent. Although burning a bayberry candle to welcome in 2010 does not quite carry the same significance as it did in 1710, it does offer an opportunity to contemplate how things have changed over the past 300 years. Burning a bayberry candle to the nub also could carry on its pleasant scent some of that hope and reassurance for the coming year that was so appreciated by the colonists.

Real bayberry candles can be found at Adirondackcraft.com (http://www.adirondackcraft.com/XPH/ach102can/ProductInfo.htm) and at fine candle shops everywhere.

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