The Use of Candles in Christian Fellowship, by Rev. William H. Leach (HC, $1.50, (ex-lib., with a mangled 1/2 inch of spine at the top) which is 1/3 the internet price)
Included here are a lot of strange candle facts-
During mediaeval times candles were HUGE. In 1517 the Paschal candle in Salisbury Cathedral was 36 feet high!
There was a feast of purification on candlemas day, when people would bring their candles to a priest to be blessed.
"Very early the church saw a close analogy between the [candle] wax and Jesus. He was born from the virgin mother; so wax is produced by virgin bees. The wick in the candle tells of the son of God enclosed in the human body, while the light symbolizes the light that shines to all men."
This book also advised to give the congregation small drip cards along with candles. I can tell you this advice still holds true. I went to a Christmas Eve service at a not-to-be named church where drip catchers were reused. Both the lady next to me and myself did a lot of twisting to line up our cards just where those drips were flowing. We may also have said some words unusual for a Christmas service. Still, though we went home with burns on our hands, there was still joy in our hearts!
Look for this book in the religion section, avail. 2/29.
P.S. For those of you "ignorant" ones (like myself), Paschal means Easter!
