Looking for history of candlelight vigils

[Newai]

Wikipedia has almost nothing on when this all started. Ditto for history of candle making.

Anyone know the history of this kind of vigil?

 

[Evo]

You will probably find it most commonly in religious vigils. Since candles were a common manner of light at night before electricty or even gas, the only reference to them would be as gatherings at night. Perhaps torchlight ceremonies. But torchlight was common.

 

[Evo]

If you just want a history of candlemaking, I can probably find some articles on that, I used to have some. They used to have oil lamps long before candles.

 

[Newai]

Not so much candle-making, really. I only mentioned that because it was part of my search strategy. Odd that I can't find anything on the history of this kind of vigil. But where you mention religion, I'll try to find a religion forum and see if anyone knows.

Pray I avoid any proselytizing snowballs.

 

[arildno]

Although this is more in the candle-making business than about vigils, I suggest you contact, for example, the Chandler's Guild in London. (It still exists).

The waxchandlers have their own website; here's a chronology from there:
http://www.waxchandlers.org.uk/origins/chronology-of-the-companys-history.php

Furthermore, at amazon.com, a history of the guild "The Wax Chandlers of London" is available from independent sources:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0850331005/?tag=pfamazon01-20

 

[Newai]

Will do. Thank you.

 

[arildno]

The following 700-page book by the historian Philippe Arries, "The hour of our death", seems to be a study of the changing perceptions of death, how death has been ritualized, and so on.

Perhaps worth looking into?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0394751566/?tag=pfamazon01-20

 

[Newai]

Nice find. I will look at that one.