SPIRITUAL CANDLES

The History of Candles in Spiritual and Santeria Works

The burning of candles for spiritual works goes back to ancient times. Many spiritual workers believe that the flame of the candle pierces the veil between the physical and the Spiritual world and creates a passageway that allows the prayers and petitions to be more readily received by those from whom help is being sought out.

The use of candles in the Santeria Religon has its roots in the long tradition of Roman Catholic Church candle burning. The Lucumi religion originated in Nigeria by the Yoruba tribe, was exported to the New World when slavery began. The slaves were forced to stop the adoration of their gods and deities and embrace the Catholic Saints of their capturers. Fearing corporal punishment and even death the slaves practiced Christianity against their will. Soon they began finding similarities between their African deities and the Catholic Saints and thus began the synchronization between their African Religion and Catholicism. This is the practice known today as Santeria. Same as in the Catholic Religion, candle burning is an essential part of the Santeria tradition.