Lighting the Dark Nights

Wintering The Homestead/ August 25th, 2021

Candle Making 

O’Hara Candle Molds

Today candles serve mostly a decorative purpose, but back in the 1800s when the O’Hara family first settled near Madoc candles were a vital aspect of daily life. Throughout the year candles were necessary at night to do anything, as there was no electricity around. Even once electricity became more widely available, most Canadians still relied on candles, which were a more trusted and affordable way of lighting their homes. 

When winter came with its longer and darker nights, families would depend on candles more to get their chores done and to keep busy after the early sunsets that come with the colder days. While in the 1800s candles were mass produced and available for purchase, most families on Homesteads, like the O’Hara’s, would make their own. 

Brief history of Candle Making 

Candle making has been around for a very long time, as technologies have advanced so has the art of making candles. Beeswax and tallow were often used to make candles but as the whaling industry boomed in the 18th century a substance called spermaceti, “which was an oil that comes from a cavity in the head of the sperm whale”. This substance was very popular for candle making largely because it did not make a gross smell and produced a much brighter light than other substances being used. 

In the 1800s, spermaceti was replaced by colza oil, which produced clear and smokeless flames. Braided wicks also came into use, which produced what was known as self burning candles, which got their name from the fact that the wicks incinerated mostly making it less necessary to trim the wicks. Then after the 1850s most candles were made from paraffin and stearic acid. 

Candle Making Process 

To make your own candles like the pioneers did you will need a couple of things. First you must decide if you want to make your candles by dipping or using molds. Here at O’Hara the family would have used candle molds, which would ensure the desired shape and made the process much faster. You will need:

• A block of paraffin wax ( or other wax of choice) 

• Wicks

• Wick tabs

• Containers or molds of your choice

Heat the wax over low heat until melted. At this stage you can add in any dyes or scents that you wish. Then dip the wick tab into the wax and secure to the bottom of the container or mold. Then pour the wax in holding up your wick using something like a skewer. Once the wax is completely dried you can take them out of your mold. If you choose to use a container, wait until dried to burn the candle. 

While today candle making is a fun hobby or an artisan craft for many, in the days of the pioneers this was an essential practice that allowed families to continue activities into the night and allowed socialization and work to continue into the darker hours of the long Canadian winters. 

𝓗𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 & 𝓜𝓲𝓪