Dancing Wicks
Dance to the candle while lasteth the wick."
-from Tennessee Williams
In Tennessee Williams’ comedy-drama The Night of the Iguana, Williams compares youth to a dancing candle wick. He does this to express how fleeting our youth is.
Youth feels short, but the life of your candle doesn’t need to be if properly taken care of.
What Does A Dancing Flame Mean?
Moving air can cause your candle flame to look like it's dancing around. The air movement around it causes your wick to burn at an inconsistent rate.
Why do candles flicker? Essentially, your wick is using up the oil from the candle wax to burn. This causes candle flickering because the wax builds up around the wick. Waves of air create a dancing flame.
This dancing flame can be caused by an open window, an open door, a general draft, a window AC or room air conditioner, etc. So if you are wondering, "why is my candle flickering so much", check your room for any drafts.
Why Is My Candle Flame So High?
Candles add a much desired ambiance, relaxation, and aroma to any room. However, if the flame is very high, it can be concerning. And dangerous.
When you light your A Cheerful Giver candle, the natural wick will draw the wax upward to fuel the candle’s flame. If the burning flame is too hot, it will cause a "high" flame.
If you see that your candle’s flame is way too high or seems uncontrollable, put the flame out immediately. Once cooled, carefully examine your wick.
HIgh flames are often the result of a wick that is too long. This is an easy fix:
- Allow your candle to cool completely.
- Using a wick trimmer, trim the wick to about ¼ of an inch.
- Discard the piece that is cut off.
Once your wick is at the proper height, you are ready to enjoy your candle again.
Other Dancing Flame Meanings
If you are a bit superstitious, or enjoy a bit of fun, there are some people who think a dancing flame and candle crackling has other meanings.
Much like the silly fun of reading a fortune cookie, they wonder about candle magic flame meaning. Here are some general, fun ideas:
- What does a jumping flame mean?: Anger, mainly in love
- What does a dancing flame mean?: Love, or a spell, is out of your control
- What does candle popping mean?: A need for positive communication
- What does candle flickering mean?: Dimming or brightening emotions
- What does a steady flame mean?: Positive love and energy
- What does a tall flame mean?: Strength in all things
Many people light candles for religious holidays, such as Lent, Advent, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.
Some say a flickering flame during a holy week is a sign of your prayers being heard. Specific colors and scents are chosen to represent different things for different holidays.
Final Flame Pondering
Candles bring so much joy and meaning into your life and home. They set the mood, create drama, add romance, and bring about comfort.
Taking proper care of your candle is essential. Trim the wick and be sure to place your candle in a draft free location, that is safe from fabrics or other flammables.
If you are wondering how long candles can burn, use this rule of thumb: 2-3 hrs is best, 4 hrs max. If you burn your candle for too long, carbon will collect on the wick. This can make it last for a shorter time.
And as always, never leave a candle unattended.
This spring, enjoy this beautiful new scent from The Cheerful Giver:
Enjoy!
