Candles for Candlemas

February 2nd marks the halfway point between the winter solstice and the summer equinox. It is recognized as the beginning of spring in some areas as well as the start of the planting season. Not so here in cold and snowy New Hampshire. However, it was fun to learn about Candlemas. And as the name suggests, decorations must include candles. their light represents the new life that is coming and the growing light as the days get longer.

So candles it is. We decided to dip our own bees wax candles.

We gathered our supplies. Pot of water, canning jar, tall-narrow jar (we used a milk bottle), wick, skewers, and of course bees wax.

We melted the bees wax in the canning jar in the pot of simmering water. This took a little while and smelled so good.

After the wick was tied to the skewer we began dipping. All the girls were shocked that the first dip was hardly noticeable. It was then that they realized that this may take a while.


Bekah thought it was great. She was very careful not to get the hot wax on herself. Between dips we hung the candle by resting the skewers on two cereal boxes. By the time the fourth candle was dipped the first was ready for the next coat.


Here are our finished candles hanging next to our winter nature table. We all had a lot of fun, but I am glad that we don't have to make candles for our family to use as our lighting. I don't think we would get anything else done.

'at the beginning of february, when the infant light of spring is greeted thankfully by the winter earth...it seems fitting we should celebrate a candle festival to remember that moment when the light of the world was received, when the old yielded to the new.'

~ from all year round


if candlemas day be fair and bright,
winter will take another flight.
if candlemas day be cloud and rain,
winter is gone and will not come again.

~ from festivals, family and food

Stop the The Magic Onions' Friday's Nature Table to see what other crafty/nature stuff people have been working on.