Altar Candles Black Beeswax 9in

Description

Hand poured 100% pure Canadian beeswax. Bees have fascinated humans since time immemorial and have long been associated with fertility, joy, feminine power, teamwork, growth, industriousness and the sweeetness of life. In Slavic countries when a beekeeper died, his neighbour would go to his beehives to inform the bees of their master’s death, by hitting each beehive three times and then telling the bees about the passing of their master. The same custom known as “Telling the bees” about the death of their owner is found in other parts of Europe. Slavs also believed that bees that belonged to the dead beekeeper would also soon die…This is why it was a practice to give bees away, to your son or to someone else before you die, to ensure bee colonies’ prosperity.  Nikolai Bogatov, “A beekeeper” 1875

In Ukrainian folklore the bee was considered a sacred insect, surrounded by a certain mystical worship – “The Fly of God”, which had a special connection with the Highest, who was its Creator. Within people’s worldview beliefs an important place had the mythological significance of the bee as a symbol of the soul, characterized by deep archaicism and its origins reaching back to pre-Christian beliefs [Nikolskyi 1929, 19]. The bee was identified with the soul; this is due to the belief in the prophetic gift of an insect capable to predict certain events in human life, natural phenomena, to recognize one’s master and people by their behaviour and mental qualities. According to common beliefs, the bee belonged to the nearest home environment of the beekeeper. It was believed that insects take part in family celebrations, have fun with the farmstead on holidays, grieve over the death of the landlord. Among Ukrainian beekeepers it was widespread the belief about the bees’ attachment to their landlord. Insects recognized him when he came to work near them or pick honey and did not bite him. Similarly to the relation of bees and their owners in the imagination of Ukrainians, there was a direct connection between domestic happiness and apiary; a swarm that flew into someone else’s yard, proclaimed happiness to the owner of the house, and with the loss of the bees the family lost their fortune. As people considered the bee a holy insect, its stealing or killing was thought to be a grave sin. The culmination of an insect’s glorification is its equation on a number of features to a human, that is proved by the fixed expression – “the bee does not die (as an animal), but passes away (as a human)” in the Ukrainian folk verbal culture.  ~ The Ritual Aspects of Ukrainian Beekeeping ~ Uliana Movna

100% natural beeswax candles have long been known for their air purifying effects and can greatly reduce dust and other allergens in your home. They can help improve indoor air quality by producing negative ions which have the same effect as houseplants.

Studies have shown that burning stimulates the pituitary gland, increasing intuition, creativity & heightening dream activity. Some say burning them before bed helps them achieve a more restful sleep.

Beeswax acquires a light dusting or film called ‘Bloom’ on the surface as it ages. Bloom occurs naturally in beeswax & is a sign of candle purity. Bloom can be removed by buffing with a soft cloth or gently with a hair dryer.
100% pure beeswax purchased from a local ethical beekeeper. Wicks are jute, cotton and paper core. The candles are hand poured.

Candle Size: 9″ h x 3/4″ d

Burn Time: 8-10 Hours