Keeping urns at home close to memorial candles can help families create a personalized space for connecting with their loved one’s memory in private. One way to accomplish this is to have cremation urns for ashes at home that feature a small candle. While churches, shrines, and other religious spaces offer a designated area to light candles, many people prefer to have an option for lighting candles at home. There is an abundance of meaning to be found in lighting a candle, even if it is done outside of an organized religious tradition. The flickering flame of a candle also provides a reminder of the fleeting nature of life, which can help those who are grieving gain a sense of appreciation and self-reflection for their own life, while also remembering those they have lost and actively keeping their memory alive. Lighting the candles can provide a moment of peace to remember loved ones. Those who plan on keeping urns at home often find it soothing to include one or more candles near the ceramic urns. The flame is often considered a source of guiding light in a place of darkness, which can symbolize the essence of hope for those who are grieving.
Non-Religious Symbolism of Lighting a CandleĪ memorial candle can be a great way to celebrate the life of a lost loved one and bring joy and comfort to family and loved ones by enabling the ritual of remembrance to be perpetuated and a candle lit each day to ease the pain of loss.Ĭandles can also be used by those who do not identify with a religious tradition. These three ideologies are just a few examples, and there are many other religions that use candles as part of memorialization. Candles are commonly included in shrines and other devotional arrangements. Churches feature rows of shared memorial candles that can be lit as a dedicational prayer for the deceased.īuddhism – A symbol of spiritual life and the inspiration of the Buddha’s teachings, candles are regularly used as a way to facilitate meditation. In Catholicism, lighting a candle is a way to strengthen and embrace the power of prayer. Judaism – Every year on the anniversary of an individual’s death, family members will light a candle as part of Yahrtzeit, a symbolic gesture that offers an opportunity for the family to remember the deceased and reflect on their life.Ĭatholicism – Light is used to symbolize God, strength, and guidance towards holiness. The act of lighting a candle is believed to evoke special meaning in each faith tradition. Organized religions have formal ways of using candles to honor the deceased. Take a look at some of the ways candles play a role in honoring loved ones who have passed. But even those who do not practice a particular faith can benefit from setting up a memorial candle, as this gesture carries non-religious symbolism as well. For example, candles play an important role in many different religious ceremonies, each with their own unique customs. The truth is that lighting a candle for a loved one is a common gesture, but the symbolism can vary from culture to culture. But what exactly does lighting a candle symbolize when it comes to remembering a loved one? And what’s the best time and place to carry out this tradition?
The ritual of lighting a candle to pay tribute to a life of a loved one has long been a part of our culture.Ĭandles are a common feature in funeral services.
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