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The earliest evidence of candles made of beeswax has been found on the island of Crete and in Egypt where candles were used 5,000 years ago. Along with their practical use as sources of light, candles have long been considered a means to repel unfavorable spirits while favoring good ones. Besides this connotation, candles have played an important role in a multitude of rites and spells. They have been used both by witches during sabbats and by Christians in exorcism rituals.

Magic rituals involving candles are documented in Egypt and in Rome in the early centuries C.E., while Christians introduced the use of candles in their rituals in the fourth century and began consecrating and placing them on altars in the twelfth century

It is an ancient Jewish tradition to place candles in the room where a dying or dead person lies; candles are believed to ward off evil spirits and purify the air in the room. Subsequently, Christians adopted such customs and folkloric traditions and elaborated on them; in particular, the American folkloric tradition has produced interpretations concerning the places and the ways in which candles burn.

The interpretations and uses of candles are particularly rich in the magic tradition. Candles made of other substances than beeswax were used in magical rituals, often made of human or other animal tallow and fat. In recent centuries such candles appeared in Black Masses, usually black candles. Black candles are also used by religious Satanists. Thus in The Satanic Bible, for instance, Anton LaVey lists candles among the “Devices Used in a Satanic Ritual.” Inverting traditional symbolism, LaVey stipulates that all of one’s ritual candles should be black except for one white candle, which is to be reserved for cursing rituals. No other light source is to be used during the ceremony:

"The candles used in Satanic ritual represent the light of Lucifer—the bearer of light, enlightenment, the living flame, burning desire, and the Flames of the Pit. . . . Black candles are used for power and success for the participants of the ritual, and are used to consume the parchments on which blessings requested by the ritual participants are written. The white candle is used for destruction of enemies. Parchments upon which curses are written are burned in the flame of the white candle. (LaVey 1969, 136–137)"

For Further Reading: Chevalier, Jean, and Alain Gheerbrant. The Penguin Dictionary of Symbols. London: Penguin, 1996. LaVey, Anton Szandor. The Satanic Bible. New York: Avon, 1969.

--James Lewis