Archive for November, 2009
Christmas Memories…
… Even more special were our treks down Highway US 218 to pick up my grandparents with all their exciting bundles, and our 11 p.m. Christmas Eve service where everybody received a small white candle to be lit at the end when we sang “Silent Night.” I remember so vividly the glorious moment when the flame from the Christ candle up front was passed to several of the small candles, the lights were turned off, and row after row of tiny flames flitted from candle to candle in the big semicircles of pews. …
Post Your Holiday Photos. Win Free Candles! A Win, Win Situation!!!
Free Holiday Candles To Winner of Facebook Holiday Photo Contest
Wick-edly Sent Soap and Candle Company is offering a Facebook Holiday Photo Contest where a lucky winner will win a free case of holiday candles.
November 28, 2009 — It’s time to dig up those old holiday photos, they could help you win a free case of holiday candles from Wick-edly Sent Soap and Candle Company. The company is holding their first Holiday Photo Contest, where fans of their Facebook Page can upload and vote for their favorite holiday photos. The winning photo will appear as a label for the free case of holiday candles.
“This is a great way to post your holiday photos,” Scott Mackey, co-owner said. The owners came up with the idea from all the holiday greetings they received in previous years, which showed holiday photos of family, fri, and their loyal customers. Now with social media tools such as Facebook, sharing holiday photos have never been easy.
The Power of Candles
India lights candles to mark anniversary of Mumbai attack
People light candles at a vigil for the victims of last year’s militant attacks outside the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai November 25, 2009. 26 November marks the one year anniversary of the Mumbai attack.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Students hold candles during a vigil to commemorate Mumbai victims on the eve of the first anniversary of a militant attack in Mumbai, in Chandigarh Nov. 25, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
More Global Candal Observences to Remember Loved Ones
Brevard group lights candles to remember lost loved ones
BREVARD - The Brevard chapter of The Compassionate Friends will participate in an annual worldwide candle lighting event designed to honor the memories of all children, regardless of age, who have died.
The local candle-lighting will be part of a special service beginning at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 22 Fisher Road, and will feature music, readings and poems, as well as light refreshments after the candle lighting.
Check Out theses Fabulous Candles. Great for Holiday Gift Candle Giving!
Unique Candle Art is Oprah Pick for the Holidays
GeoCandles is Designing Exclusive Candle Art to Offer Style to this Holiday Season. The Candle Line is Offered online at GeoCandles.com
As the holidays draw near, we search for that perfect gift - one that will reflect the season and enrich homes and times shared with others. GeoCandles are handmade candles by Klaus Haagen of Bloomington, Indiana. Candle designs include contemporary Christmas trees and geometric shapes made of 100% natural material. A host of colors and shapes are found at www.Geocandles.com and select boutiques across the country.
Worldwide Candle Lighting Remembering Children
Candle light service set for Dec. 13 will remember children who have died
WARWICK - The Compassionate Friends “Worldwide Candle Lighting” will be held Sunday, Dec. 13 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Warwick Ecumenical Church to honor and remember children who have died at any age from any cause.
As candles are lit, there will be a “virtual wave of light, hundreds of thousands of persons commemorate and honor the memories of children in a way that transcends all ethnic, cultural, religious, and political boundaries,” according to organizers.
Believed to be the largest mass candle lighting on the globe, the candle lighting, creates “a virtual 24-hour wave of light as it moves from time zone to time zone,” organizers said. “Hundreds of formal candle lighting events are held and thousands of informal candle lightings are conducted in homes as families gather in quiet remembrance of children who have died, but will never be forgotten.”
The lighting started in the U.S. in 1997 as a small Internet observance and has grown as word has spread throughout the world of the remembrance. Joining last year were chapters of several bereavement organizations including MISS, Twinless Twins, MADD, Parents of Murdered Children, and BPUSA.
A remembrance book is available during the event at group’s national Web site. On that day, thousands of messages are received and posted.
For more information, visit www.compassionatefriends.org.
Can’t Find Quality Soy Candles? Here You Go - Do It Yourself “Green” Candles!
DIY soy candles
Handmade soy candles will provide all-natural, nontoxic golden glow for your decor-obsessed friend.
By Heidi Hill
Tue, Nov 24 2009 at 8:02 AM EST 
They set a mood, warm up a room, and just look pretty on a shelf. But many types of candles also have a dark history - they’re made from animal byproducts (beeswax, tallow), or they emit toxic soot, or they increase CO2 levels in the atmosphere. For those who prefer an all-natural, nontoxic golden glow from their candles, there is another option. Soy candles don’t give off soot like paraffin candles and last longer than candles made from animal products - but they’re just as beautiful and make for wonderful gifts. And best of all, they’re easy to make by hand, requiring basic tools and just a few ingredients. For your friend whose apartment looks like it could be in the pages of Dwell or Martha Stewart Living, consider making a natural soy candle. You can tailor the soy candle to suit her style - be it a candle scented with lavender, or a candle housed in a reclaimed teacup, or a simple white candle in an old Mason jar. She’ll feel good turning off the lights and lighting a homemade candle that isn’t harmful to the environment, and you’ll get to flex your creative muscles without spending too much time or money. Basic supplies for making soy candles:
- 2 cups soy wax flakes for container candles (available at your local craft supply store)
- Glass bowl
- Saucepan
- Wooden spoon
- Candy thermometer
- Natural fragrance oils (lavender, vanilla, ginger, nutmeg, etc.)
- Wick sized to fit container
- Glass jar or other container
- Clothespin
- Scissors
Optional supplies for making soy candles:
- Wick holder
- Candle putty
Instructions for making soy candles:
1. Melt the wax. Place soy wax flakes in a glass bowl, and place the bowl on a saucepan about a third full of water, creating a double boiler. Heat the wax, stirring occasionally, until it is soft and pourable. (You can also heat the wax in the microwave, at one-minute intervals until melted.)
2. Add the fragrance. Let the wax cool (the temperature of the water should be about 120 degrees) and then add 5-10 drops (or about an ounce) of fragrance oil.
3. Place the wick in the container. Spoon a small amount of wax onto the center of the bottom of the container. Dangle the wick into the container until it touches the wax, making sure you have enough wick at the top to hang over the end of the container. (You can also purchase wick holders and candle putty at a craft store to secure the wick at the bottom; simply follow the directions on the packaging.) Hold the wick in place until the wax hardens; then pinch the top end of the wick with a clothespin and set the pin across the top of the container, keeping the wick centered and upright.
4. Pour the wax. Stir the wax so that it is smooth and then slowly pour it into the container. Leave some room at the top. If you have leftover wax, let it harden and then save it in a container for later use.
5. Let the wax harden overnight. The next day, trim the wick, and your soy candle is complete! Embellish your candle jar with a simple ribbon or piece of yarn tied around the neck. If you have a vintage matchstick box or an empty matchbook from a place that is special to you and your friend, create a tag out of it for a personal effect. Then give and glow!
Use Your Candles through the Holidays. But Use Them Safely!
Candles can be dangerous
By Kim Y. Hylander, Department of Fire & Rescue
Candle fires are four times as likely to occur during the winter holidays, according to the United States Fire Administration. Between 2002 and 2005, candle fires were reported approximately every 34 minutes. Since the 1990s, home candle fires have tripled. Although the majority of these fires begins in the bedroom, candle fire deaths occur in other areas of the home, such as the living room, family room and den.
Reports indicate that 20 percent of candle fires were either unattended or abandoned, and more then 50 percent of those fires were due to combustible items such as furniture, mattresses, bedding, and decorations,being too close to the candle.
Global Candle Lighting Helping Families Through the Holidays
Worldwide Candle Lighting for Bereaved Parents
Submitted By karen matulis
When a child has died, the holidays are an extremely difficult time for the family. While others are enjoying celebrations and holiday good cheer, bereaved families find themselves simply trying to figure out how they can survive what used to be, for many, such a special time of the year.
Bereaved families now have one special day when they can join together to remember all children around the world who have died, regardless of age or cause of death. The second Sunday in December is The Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting. More than 500 formal services planned for December 14 are expected to be listed on The Compassionate Friends national website with hundreds more planned for that day. Dozens of countries will be hosting services around the globe.
Candles For The Holidays That Are A Healthy Alternative
Eco-friendly candles for your holiday table
Is it worth it to spend a little more on candles that are friendlier to the environment? Tue, Nov 17 2009 at 8:52 AM EST Read more: CHRISTMAS, GREEN ALTERNATIVES, HOLIDAY, THANKSGIVING
Do you put candles on your holiday table? It may seem like a small thing, but the type of candles you chose makes a difference environmentally. Conventional candles are made from paraffin. Paraffin candles are made from petroleum and emit harmful carcinogens when burned. Their creation is bad for the earth’s environment and their use is bad for the environment inside your home. In contrast, soy candles are made from soybeans and are non-toxic. No carcinogens are emitted when they burn. They usually cost more than paraffin candles, but they burn longer. They don’t need to be replaced as often.