[Frontspiece: In the Olde-Timey Dayes, people used to put real, lighted candles on their Christmas trees, instead of strings of electric lights. In the Olde-Timey Dayes, people also used to have a lot of Christmas tree fires from doing that. When placing candles, remember that Burned-Down is not an attractive holiday decor scheme. Be sure to ALWAYS use candles safely, never leave them unattended when lit, and keep them away from children, pets, and tipsy or clumsy people.]
Okay. We’ve looked at great candle options for Thanksgiving and Hanukkah; check out those prior posts if you haven’t had the chance yet, as they have some great goodies for year-round candle fans.
Today, we’re going to wander happily through some more lovely lights, this time with a Christmas focus!
Christmas candle decor is often the most effective in groupings. Candle holder sets for tea lights, votives, tapers, or pillars, can be mixed and matched.
With gem-like faceted carving, these glimmering metallic and pearlescent Pear Candles offer both traditional and modern vibes to your holiday decor. Museumoutlets.com
Varying heights can add a lot of impact to your display.
Try placing candles all in a row along your mantel, buffet, or foyer table.
How about some more cute Pear Candles, this time in a glowing ivory or warm red color? Adorable small pears are scattered with larger pear candles for a charming effect. Museumoutlets.com
Or, you might like the effect of arranging groupings of different numbers of candles; perhaps three clustered here, five gathered over there.
Or, for a more balanced effect that works great for framing a featured decor item like a centerpiece or Christmas village scene, try aligning candles in a formal, paired arrangement, perhaps with successively taller candles in a ladder-like configuration.
One of the fun things about Christmas is the iconic characters associated with it. We have, for example:
Mr. and Mrs. Claus…
Mrs. Claus often gets left out of the picture. Show some respect for her contributions to Christmas cheer, and her rocking beehive hairdo, with this matching Claus Taper Candle Set. Pier1.comNow we know how Santa monitors our naughty/nice percentages throughout the year. He uses binoculars. Light your candles, or trigger a bit of paranoia in those that misbehave, with this Victorian styled Santa matchbox. Museumoutlets.comExclusive, hand-painted Santa candles in several styles. The more Santas, the better! Old Word Santa Candles. Wisteria.com
Santa’s Reindeer-or just deer in general…
A nice box of good quality wood matches really does make it easier and safer to light your candles. It also looks nicer left upon one’s mantel or elsewhere than a cheap matchbook from the dollar store. This one is particularly nice not just because it has a gold metallic finish, but it also features both a buck and a doe. Gold Deer Holiday Decorative Matchbox. Museumoutlets.com
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been to holiday parties where I’ve witnessed this “But She’s Under The Mistletoe” kind of social risk before. Holiday Party Cardinals Decorative Matchbox. Museumoutlets.comElegant and sweet, in a classy black and ivory color scheme for your sleek, contemporary Christmas scene. Note the tiny details: On one panel, each swan wears a different style of crown; on the other, the white swan wears a sparkling necklace, the black swan a dashing bow tie. This matchbox would be great for your New Year’s Eve gala candlescape too. Swans Decorative Boxed Matches. MuseumoutletscomIf your holiday party path has wound its way through a toothpick forest of cheese cubes along a river of over-rated wine, you’ll empathize with this duo. New Yorker Wine Cheese Decorative Matchbox. Museumoutlets.comThere aren’t just Christmas Deer–There are also Christmas Horses. Traditional Scandi Dala Horse Candle. Worldmarket.com
And, of course, the stars of the show…
Just one of several styles of lovely Old-World style figurines, this cherub holds a candle aloft with one hand, and gives the Royal Wave with the other. Standing Cherub Candle Holder. Wisteria.comThis cute set features four pieces: Two bases to hold tapers (not included), and two angel “huggers” that fit over the candles. The angels seem to hover in mid-air. With a retro look and soft, glimmering metallic accents, these delightful little Christmas friends will be welcome sights every year in your holiday decor. 4 Piece Set Flying Angel Candle Huggers And Bases. Vermontcountrystore.comThis lighted Nativity scene is safe to hang anywhere, because it uses LED lights and batteries, rather than a real candle. The stained-glass effect is rich and beautiful. Battery Operated LED Lighted Nativity Lantern. Overstock.comVisit church whenever you want during the Christmas season. This LED battery-operated faux candle features a wonderful vignette of a church on a snowy winter’s night. Circling the church is a scattering of silvery snowflakes. The top of the faux candle has a scalloped shape for even more charm. Did I mention the glitter? LED Glittered Church Christmas Pillar Candle. Overstock.comThere is just something about Renaissance art and Christmas that go together beautifully. Let these messengers help you to light your holiday nights. Renaissance Angels Christmas Decorative Matchbox. Museumoutlets.com
Since burning candles at Christmas is so popular, and you will likely want to use them during various festive occasions, having excellent quality, long-burning, candles that maintain a steady flame and do not emit toxins or unpleasant odors is important. Look to pure beeswax candles to resolve most of the problems you may have experienced using candles in the past.
Pineconecandles aren’t rare, but finding a lovely one made of pure beeswax isn’t easy. You’ll be tempted not to burn it, but to keep it as an heirloom-worthy decoration to use every year. Keep it pristine and clean under a cloche display in that case, or see the candle cleaning information further down in this post! Beeswaxco.comRound candle shapes blend in great with your other Christmas decor items. This Pure Beeswax Ball is available in several sizes. the 5-inch size will burn for 70 hours!. Beeswaxco.comYour basic, go-to, do-it-all, Pure Beeswax Cylinder Candle Set. These are sized like a taper and will work in candle holders that use tapers. The difference is that these are a straight cylinder shape all the way up–they don’t taper to a point at the top. That means more wax, and a longer burn time. Set of two, each 12 inches long. Beeswaxco.comFor country Christmas decor or similar themes, a Mason-jar candle might be just the thing. Finding one made with pure beeswax is a Christmas gift in itself. Pure Beeswax Candle in a Mason Jar burns a whopping 85 hours, so you’ll get your money’s worth. Beeswaxco.comFor serious drama that doesn’t look like it’s trying too hard, or to fill your fireplace, choose one or more of these mind-blowing, awesome Three Wick Beeswax Pillar Candles. Beeswaxco.com
While I am a fan of beeswax candles, Christmas is a great time to branch out and indulge your candle collecting urges.
A deal. Choose your color, and get a case of six, 3-inch Ball Candles for around $20! You can use them to decorate, or hand them out to co-workers, neighbors, or who you will, as charming little Christmas gifts. Overstock.com
Maybe you have wanted to add some more retro, Midcentury vibes to your holiday?
Carved candles are a 20th Century thing that is especially fun at Christmas; kids love them, and they do pack a visual punch that can stand up to often gaudy (delightfully so) holiday decorations. You can find them in tons of shapes, sizes, color schemes, and themes. This Carved Candy Cane Candle tucks several candy cane shapes around the top of the candle between the curls. It is available in several color schemes. Hollandhousecandles.com
Christmas candles are often so beautiful that we want to save them from year to year. Over time, they can start to look a bit dusty. Is it possible to clean a candle? According to brightnest.com and maidsbytrade.com, yes, it is! Here’s how:
First: Try dusting the candle using a feather duster or disposable duster. This should remove the surface dust.
If the candle is just a bit dirty: Try using an old (or inexpensive) pair of pantyhose! Slide the candle into one of the legs, and gently rub it all around. The hosiery material will help to scrape off surface dust without damaging the wax.
If the candle is more dirty: Dip a microfiber cloth into lukewarm water, wring it out, and then lightly wipe the candle, going in the same direction as you wipe, rather than rubbing back and forth.
Another option: Dip a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol. Beginning at the top of the candle, gently wipe away dust and debris. Be careful to keep the wick in good shape. If you notice that the candle color is coming off onto the cotton ball, you will need to stop, or you will risk marring the candle. It is worth noting that higher quality candles are usually easier to clean than low-quality candles. If the candle is very dirty and doesn’t otherwise have any particularly redeeming features, you may wish to simply throw it away and treat yourself to a new one!
