Pumpkin of Prosperity Loaded Beeswax Candle

Description

100% Canadian Beeswax

Pumpkins are one of the more resilient fruits, finding ways to grow large and bulging amongst sparse soil. It is this reason that they have become symbols of prosperity, growth and abundance.

The story of the jack-o’-lantern comes in many forms and is similar to the story of Will-o’-the-wisp retold in different forms across Western Europe, including, Italy, Norway, Spain and Sweden. In Switzerland, children will leave bowls of milk or cream out for mythical house spirits called Jack o’ the bowl. An old Irish folk tale from the mid-18th century tells of Stingy Jack, a lazy yet shrewd blacksmith who uses a cross to trap Satan. One story says that Jack tricked Satan into climbing an apple tree, and once he was up there, Jack quickly placed crosses around the trunk or carved a cross into the bark, so that Satan couldn’t get down.

Another version of the story says that Jack was getting chased by some villagers from whom he had stolen. He then met Satan, who claimed it was time for him to die. However, the thief stalled his death by tempting Satan with a chance to bedevil the church-going villagers chasing him. Jack told Satan to turn into a coin with which he would pay for the stolen goods (Satan could take on any shape he wanted); later, when the coin (Satan) disappeared, the Christian villagers would fight over who had stolen it. The Devil agreed to this plan. He turned himself into a silver coin and jumped into Jack’s wallet, only to find himself next to a cross Jack had also picked up in the village. Jack had closed the wallet tight, and the cross stripped the Devil of his powers; and so he was trapped.

In both folktales, Jack lets Satan go only after he agrees to never take his soul. Many years later, the thief died, as all living things do. Of course, Jack’s life had been too sinful for him to go to heaven; however, Satan had promised not to take his soul, and so he was barred from hell as well. Jack now had nowhere to go. He asked how he would see where to go, as he had no light, and Satan mockingly tossed him a burning coal, to light his way. Jack carved out one of his turnips (which were his favorite food), put the coal inside it, and began endlessly wandering the Earth for a resting place. He became known as “Jack of the Lantern”, or jack o’lantern.

Candles are used in religious rituals & for spiritual means as both functional & symbolic lights. It was believed that burning candles would aid in protection & invite helpful spirits into the home. To personalize carve the name, ( and if you wish birth date, scars, & tattoos) of the person you wish to emulate into the candle. The more detail the better! If you have personal concerns of theirs those can be stuffed up into a hole you dig at the base of the candle. They can then be dressed with oil, like you would any other candle.

Candles may drip, so always burn candle on a non-porous heat resistant container to catch wax and never leave a burning candle unattended.

You will receive 1 beeswax candle