{Christmas Traditions} The Bayberry Candle Poem and Exchange.

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Christmas Traditions~Bayberry Candles

Do you do this? We do. I always thought it 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. I love this Christmas tradition! For families like mine who are trying to not have so much stuff, it’s a great way to acknowledge friends at the holidays in a meaningful way.

I realize that this has nothing to do with IEPs, but here it is. Every year I give these to a few people, and I hate just handing them a candle and explaining it to them. So I made up a printable. A good printable shouldn’t go to waste. Or be stored someplace on my computer where I cannot find it next year. Here it is, both the image and printable (pdf) document.

Bayberry Candle Tradition

This is from Coal Region Connections on Facebook:

BURNING A BAYBERRY CANDLE ON CHRISTMAS EVE and NEW YEARS EVE HAS BEEN A COAL REGION TRADITION FOR GENERATIONS.

Bayberry candles are usually olive green in color & have a nice scent that permeates the house. Bayberry candles have been around in North America since Colonial times. Legend has it the burning of bayberry candles during the Yuletide Season would bring wealth & good luck throughout the New Year. May this legend come true for you.

On Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, a tapered bayberry candle like those pictured below is burned. Trim each wick to a maximum length of 3/8″ before lighting. Failure to do so could lead to improper burning.

You usually light the candle when the 1st star appears. Most importantly, you must time the lighting of the candle so it will stay light until after midnight. Again, legend has it that will bring a year of prosperity and good fortune to the house.

For those attending candlelight church services on Christmas Eve or those heading out to party New Year’s Eve, be sure to burn the candle carefully on a dish inside a kitchen sink. DO NOT extinguish the candle (that’s bad luck). It must be allowed to burn out on its own. If the candle burns down to the socket, abundance will then bless everyone in your home.

My late wife Nan would always exchange 2 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 this poem: “These bayberry candles come from a friend. So on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve burn it down to the end. For a bayberry candle burned to the socket will bring joy to the heart and gold to the pocket.”

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 to do an exchange. May this good luck legend come true for you.

Have a Merry and Blessed Christmas. May wealth & good luck and make yours a truly Happy New Year.