Educate me about the candle thing please

[uppityperson]

I am wondering about lighting a candle to show solidarity with or sympathy for someone or vigils. I asked a couple people in pms and got very nice responses back but wanted to throw it out to the general DU population too. I understand that it is to show support for someone/some situation, but am wondering where the practice came from, originated, is this a common practice, so on.

Where did this practice come from? I don't see how it shows support unless it is a commonly known sign of support, I have heard of it before, but don't know much about it. Is it a commonly known thing?

Thank you for taking time to educate me.
uppity

[SteppingRazor]

1. Explanation off the top of my head...

No idea if this is right or not, but I imagine it's based in religion. In Catholicism, for example, it's common for churches to have a bunch of little candles off to one side, and you can light one and say a prayer for whatever cause/person/etc. you wish, though usually it's for a recently deceased person.

From there, it's an easy step toward having people lighting candles in early activist vigils -- after all, the civil rights and antiwar movements were filled with religious people, even if the right-wing seems to control religious political thought today.

[uppityperson]

3. Thanks. I thought of the Catholic church link, wondering beyond that

Thinking back, it seems like it has become fairly common the last several yrs. All of a sudden I've realized that I hear references, and know it is in solidarity with someone/cause, but wondered how I missed it before, where, when, it popped up and became common. I have been busy the last bit and not paid attention to it and am noticing it more now. Thanks again. I need to go to work so will check back in this evening. If anyone wants to post a response, thank you and I'll get back to you. Hoping for a peaceful day for us all.

[intheflow]

2. I think it's probably a

secularized version of lighting a prayer candle for soemone in church. Just guessing off the top of my head, from what I know about the evolution of religious rituals and ancient peoples (I'm a minister)... a candle was probably lit to ward off the darkness and/or evil spirits from loved ones dying or in danger (as in war). A light in the darkness can give hope to someone worrying. I know this happens when I wake in the night worrying over whatever... if I lie in my bed in the dark, I'm up for hours, but if I get up, turn on a light and read (or whatever), I can go back to sleep much more quickly.

There are religious stories revolving around light and waiting, as well. For example, the Macabees only had enough oil in their lamps to last one night, but it held out for 8 days--hence the celebration of Hannukah.

Anyway, that's my best guess--it's a religious holdover in a secular world.

[BrklynLiberal]

4. I think intheflow is on the right track. I would think it has its roots

back in our primal fears and the idea that lighting a fire will scare away evil spirits.
I am sure that in reality back in "prehistoric" times, fire actually did scare away the predators that preyed on humans. That this practice should evolve into a "religious" practice to scare away the evil that lurks in our minds makes perfect sense. Eventually this became a way to comemmorate, memorialize or protect those that are in danger or have passed over into that realm of the unknown.

[jane_pippin]

5. I always think of it as a link...

Back in the day when I went to church, once a year (or more maybe, I forget) we had a service where all the young people would sing and stand around the congregation. We each had candles and one person would light theirs from the altar and then light the person's next to him/her with that, and so on and so on until we all had them.

For me, it's about the community of spirit--secular or otherwise. Even though I can't light a candle in Texas with Cindy, she and the others who are there have in a sense, given me the spark to light mine.

As to how it originated, I don't have a clue, but I'm glad it did. It's a great symbol for so many reasons.