Candles
Toys for you!
We have used candles for light and celebrations for over 5,000 years. The Ancient Egyptians are supposed to have developed the first candles, using rush lights or torches made by soaking the pithy core of reeds in melted animal fat. But these had no wick so they were not really candles.
It is the Romans who developed the wicked candle by rolling papyrus and dipping over and over in melted tallow or beeswax. They used the candles to light their homes, to guide people out at night and in religious ceremonies.
Early Chinese candles had rolled rice paper as a wick and wax from an indigenous insect, combined with seeds. They were molded in paper tubes. Japanese candles were made with wax extracted from tree nuts, while in India, candle wax was made by boiling the fruit of the cinnamon tree.
The first candles in Western cultures came from rendered animal fat, called tallow, which caused a smoky flame and smelt horrid. But in the Middle Ages beeswax candles arrived in Europe. These had a pure, clean flame and a pleasant smell.
By the 13th century, candle making had become a guild craft in England and France. The candle makers, or chandlers, went from house to house making candles from the kitchen fats saved for that purpose, or made and sold their own candles in small candle shops.
Look for the "Toys for you!" link in our competition section!
It is the Romans who developed the wicked candle by rolling papyrus and dipping over and over in melted tallow or beeswax. They used the candles to light their homes, to guide people out at night and in religious ceremonies.
Early Chinese candles had rolled rice paper as a wick and wax from an indigenous insect, combined with seeds. They were molded in paper tubes. Japanese candles were made with wax extracted from tree nuts, while in India, candle wax was made by boiling the fruit of the cinnamon tree.
The first candles in Western cultures came from rendered animal fat, called tallow, which caused a smoky flame and smelt horrid. But in the Middle Ages beeswax candles arrived in Europe. These had a pure, clean flame and a pleasant smell.
By the 13th century, candle making had become a guild craft in England and France. The candle makers, or chandlers, went from house to house making candles from the kitchen fats saved for that purpose, or made and sold their own candles in small candle shops.
Look for the "Toys for you!" link in our competition section!