Satanism Today - An Encyclopedia of Religion, Folklore and Popular ...

C
Candles
The earliest evidence of candles made of beeswax
has been found on the island of Crete and in Egypt
where candles were used 5,000 years ago. Along
with their practical use as sources of light, candles
have long been considered a means to repel unfavorable
spirits while favoring good ones. Besides
this connotation, candles have played an important
role in a multitude of rites and spells. They have
been used both by witches during sabbats and by
Christians in exorcism rituals.
Magic rituals involving candles are documented
in Egypt and in Rome in the early
centuries C.E., while Christians introduced the use
of candles in their rituals in the fourth century
and began consecrating and placing them on
altars in the twelfth century.
It is an ancient Jewish tradition to place
candles in the room where a dying or dead person
lies; candles are believed to ward off evil spirits
and purify the air in the room. Subsequently,
Christians adopted such customs and folkloric
traditions and elaborated on them; in particular,
the American folkloric tradition has produced
interpretations concerning the places and the ways
in which candles burn.
The interpretations and uses of candles are
particularly rich in the magic tradition. Candles
made of other substances than beeswax were used
in magical rituals, often made of human or other
37
Cornish witch Cait Sidhe invoking the goat spirit
(Puck/Pan), 1975
animal tallow and fat. In recent centuries such
candles appeared in Black Masses, usually black
candles. Black candles are also used by religious
Satanists. Thus in The Satanic Bible, for instance,