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A Brief History of Candles
For centuries man's progress has been lighted by candles.
However, people know only very few things about the origin of
candles. It has been written that the first candles were made by
the Ancient Egyptians. They used rushlights, or torches, made by
soaking the pithy core of reeds in molten tallow. Unlike the
candles, the rushlights had no wick. The Romans were the ones who
it is said to have developed the wick candle. They used it to
help travellers at dark, and to light homes and places of worship
during the night.
America's first contribution to candle-making was made by
colonial women who discovered that if they boiled the grayish
green berries of bayberry bushes they got a sweet-smelling wax
that burned clean. But it was extremely tedious to extract the
wax from the bayberries so their popularity soon diminished. The
first important change in candle making since the Middle Ages was
bought by the growth of the whaling industry in the late 18th
century. Spermaceti, a wax obtained by crystallizing sperm whale
oil, was available in large quantities. The spermaceti wax, as
well as beeswax, did not smell unpleasantly when burned. Even
more importantly, spermaceti wax was harder than tallow and
beeswax and it did not soften or bend because of the summer heat.
Historians write that the first candles as we know them were made
from spermaceti wax.
During the 19th century, people made most of the changes in
candle making. In 1834, Joseph Morgan, invented a machine, which
allowed continuous production of candles by the use of a
cylinder, which had a movable piston that ejected candles as they
solidified. Today, they are no longer a major source of light for
people, but candles continue to be very popular and useful.
Candles mean celebration, romance, ceremony, and can be an object
of décor, while casting the same warm and enjoyable
well-known glow.
This article may be reproduced on websites subject to credit
being given to the author, and a link to his website. If you
would like more information go to http://www.candlesources.com
 MORE RESOURCES updated Thu. February / 09 / 2012
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Joan D. Kreider, Oct. 24, 1928 – Feb. 7, 2012Uinta County HeraldHer hobbies included oil painting, knitting, crafts of all kinds, golfing and singing. Joan is survived by her daughter, Jan Pecenka, of Evanston; sons, Jeff (Sandy) Pecenka, of Cheyenne, James (Shaunna) Pecenka, of Evanston, Jay (Sandra) Pecenka, ... |
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Learn a New HobbyAbout - News & Issueshobbies resources here on About.com, I resisted putting painting first because it would seem biased. The skills from other crafts are always useful for multimedia too... Seriously, most creative people I know have a particular focus but work across ... |
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Valentine tea to honor membersTimes-Standard... vice president, progression coordinator and is currently parliamentarian. She volunteers for the Sons of Norway, and is a deacon at the First Presbyterian Church of Eureka. Her hobbies are gardening, cake decorating, arts and crafts, and painting.and more » |
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Farm show resultsReading EagleMary Heffner, Fleetwood: four awards in the canned foods open category; first, baked products open; six awards in the crafts open category; third, hobbies. Julie Yoder, Mohrsville: third, canned foods open; second, baked products open. |
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When it comes to crafts, think beyond needlepointToronto StarI've dabbled with papermaking and encaustic, but never really took them up as hobbies. Lately, however, I've found great joy in exploring crafts with a rich history if not modern day popularity. Late last year, for example, I took an introductory ...and more » |
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Moms Talk: What Is Your Favorite Hobby?Patch.comThe other hobby I have is doing crafts with my children. They may not look that good when we are done, but sometimes it is the act of doing it that really makes it fun. Answer from Mom's Councilmember Emily (mother of 2): Some of my favorite hobbies ... |
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For hobbyists, it's creative playtimeSanta Rosa Press DemocratThe public is also invited to come by and learn more about a range of hobbies, most focused around models, many radio-controlled. The word “hobby” can evoke a limitless range of pastimes, from collecting to scrapbooking, sewing to arts and crafts, ... |
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Victorian era full of Valentine'sRepublican & HeraldWhile antique hair receivers are worth about $30 to $50 and are available at yard sales and flea markets, the hair crafts made from all of this saved hair are hard to find. Victorian women saved their hair in a small ceramic bowl with a hole in its top ...and more » |
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