Have you ever heard the bayberry candle poem or tradition? Legend has it that a bayberry candle can bring you luck. I love bayberry candles and have always loved the scent.
Learning about the holiday tradition of sharing a prayer or poem with a friend became an annual thing for me.
You light the candle when the 1st star appears. Most importantly, you must time the lighting of the candle so it will stay lit until after midnight. Legend has it that will bring a year of prosperity and good fortune to the house.
Coal Region Connections
Do you do this? We do. I always thought a bayberry candle for luck was a coal region thing (my family is from Mt. Carmel and Shamokin). But I understand now that the bayberry candle tradition is a tradition for many heritages.
What is the Bayberry Candle Poem?
“These bayberry candles come from a friend so on Christmas Eve & New Years Eve burn it down to the end. For a bayberry candle burned to the socket will bring joy to the heart & gold to the pocket.”
Bayberry Candle Tradition Poem-Printable
I have two versions of the printable. When you give your candles to a friend, you can print them and include them with a card.
Bayberry Candle Legend
I love this Christmas tradition! For families like mine who are trying not to have so much stuff, it’s a great way to acknowledge friends during the holidays meaningfully.
I realize this has nothing to do with IEPs, but here it is. Every year I give a holiday bayberry candle to a few people, and I hate just handing them a candle and explaining it to them. So I made up a printable.
- Includes Bayberry Candle Holiday Legend on Box!
- 10″ Tall Long Burning and Solid Bayberry Green Color
- COMPLIMENT ANY OCASSION, These taper candles feature an elegant design that is suitable for parties, weddings, and holiday dinners, these candle…
- HAND-DIPPED, Hand-dipped to ensure quality and create a nostalgic feel. These tapers create a warm glow in every space.
- Once of America’s longest lasting traditions and favorite holiday fragrances. Bayberries paired with hints of fir balsam, vanilla, and natural…
- Beeswax Blend
- PURE WAX: Handmade in Woodstock, NY with pure bayberry and pure beeswax.
- ALL NATURAL: Delight in the subtle, delicate aroma of natural bayberry emanating from each taper, as we refrain from incorporating any fragrances…
A good printable shouldn’t go to waste. Or be stored somewhere on my computer where I cannot find it next year. So, hey, turn it into a blog post!
Bayberry Candle Tradition
- What is the Bayberry Candle Tradition? Legend has it that the burning of bayberry candles during the Yuletide season would bring wealth and good luck throughout the New Year.
- When did the Bayberry Candle Tradition begin? Burning a bayberry candle on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve has been a coal region tradition for generations.
- Is the Christmas Eve bayberry candle tradition different from the New Year’s Eve bayberry candle tradition? No. Both dictate that the candle be lit in the evening when you see the first star. Both also say that it should be lit until after midnight.
- Why is it a bayberry candle? Bayberry candles are usually olive green and have a nice scent permeating the house. Bayberry candles have been in North America since Colonial times. This is likely why they were chosen, as they were a special treat during the holiday season. May this legend come true for you.
- When do you burn the bayberry candle? On Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, or both!
- When do you light the bayberry candle? You usually light the candle when the first star appears. Most importantly, you must time the lighting of the candle so it will stay lit until after midnight. Again, legend has it that it will bring a year of prosperity and good fortune to the house.
- So, how is it a friendship gift? My late wife would always exchange two bayberry candles for the Yuletide. That, too, is a significant tradition. The candles were often joined at the wick. During the candle exchange, each would recite the poem below. (a reminder that I am republishing this from Coal region Connections)
- Is there a special way to burn it? A tapered bayberry candle like those pictured below is burned on Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Trim each wick to a maximum length of 3/8″ before lighting. Failure to do so could lead to improper burning.
If this good-luck tradition is new to you, it’s not too late to buy a pair of bayberry candles and seek out a special friend for an exchange. May this good-luck legend come true for you. Have a Merry and Blessed Christmas. May wealth and good luck make yours a truly Happy New Year.
I hope you like this bayberry holiday tradition as much as I do. It’s simple, meaningful, and easy to do. Special thanks to Coal Region Connections on Facebook for their assistance with this post.
Holiday Family Fun
- Free ASL Christmas Activity: Christmas Tree Worksheet Printable PDF
- Free Fill-in-the-Blank Santa Letter Template for Kids
- 6 Free Printable Christmas Thank You Notes for Kids (Fill in the Blank PDF Templates)
- 50 Free Christmas Coloring Pages (printable PDF)
- The Bayberry Candle Tradition and Poem for Christmas and New Year’s Eve (Free PDFs)
- 25 Best Gifts that Autistic and Disabled Teenagers and Adults Actually Want
- 30 Thoughtful Gifts for Intellectually Disabled Adults That They’ll Actually Use and Love
- Christmas Tree Coloring Page Project for Kids–Free PDF
- 8 Unique and Easy Christmas Letter Ideas
- 25 Best Free Christmas Apps for Kids
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