# Candles made from dead birds? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 25, 2018, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-made-from-dead-birds/820250 "2018-08-25T12:51:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2018, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-made-from-dead-birds/820250/1 "2018-08-25T12:51:28Z")
I have a vague recollection about reading something about the use of dead birds as candles. I can’t recall now where or when I read it—it might even have been right here—but my searches are failing me. The idea I recall is that it was something that was done somewhere in northern Europe—the British Isles or Nordic areas—probably on islands that had lots of birds. Apparently, some birds contained so much fat that there was apparently a way to just stick a wick in a dead bird and use it as candle. Does anyone know anything about this? Searching for birds and candles just gets me images of regular candles decorated with images of birds. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2018, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-made-from-dead-birds/820250/2 "2018-08-25T13:01:28Z")
I think I heard that about petrels: > **[The Storm-Petrel Bird Candle](https://ericwedwards.wordpress.com/2013/07/10/the-storm-petrel-bird-candle/)** > > In the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford, in Case 29A (1932.88.160) on the Middle gallery, there resides the little body of a storm-petrel bird (Procellaria pelagica). A tarred string wick has been passed… ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2018, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-made-from-dead-birds/820250/3 "2018-08-25T13:22:58Z")
Ah that’s it! Fascinating. Kill a bird, dry it, stick a wick down its throat and light it. Weird world. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2018, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-made-from-dead-birds/820250/4 "2018-08-25T14:32:44Z")
Better to light a petrel than to curse the duckness. ---
**Author:** ![Arkcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2018, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-made-from-dead-birds/820250/5 "2018-08-25T21:46:53Z")
When I was a kid, they described oil-birds, oil-fish and candle-berries as sources of torch-light. With a drawing of each aflame. You’re going to have to look up those individually. > [@bibliophage](#): > > Better to light a petrel than to curse the duckness. Thing is, sometimes you’d rather light a foodstuff, instead of eating it in the dark, and sometimes you can’t eat these oily foods anyway, and might as well light it up. Certain bacteria make fats as wax _ethers_, whereas we can only digest fatty acid _esters_. If the fish or bird depends on other smaller fish that graze on these bacteria exclusively, they’re not good eats. > **[Oilfish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oilfish)** > > Oilfish (Ruvettus pretiosus) are a species of snake mackerel with a cosmopolitan distribution in tropical and temperate oceans. They can be found at depths from 100 to 800 metres (330 to 2,620 ft), but most often between 200 and 400 metres (660 and 1,310 ft). Oilfish can grow to a length of 3 metres (9.8 ft), though most do not exceed 1.5 metres (4.9 ft). It is the only known member of its genus. > Oilfish are large, fusiform fish which often grow to 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) and a maximum of 3 metres... ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2018, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-made-from-dead-birds/820250/6 "2018-08-25T22:08:41Z")
> [@bibliophage](#): > > Better to light a petrel than to curse the duckness. That quote is worth the candle. Nicely done. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2018, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-made-from-dead-birds/820250/7 "2018-08-25T22:21:58Z")
Penguins were used as fuel for fires by whalers and sealers in the sub-Antarctic islands. Apparently the fat makes them very effective. In [Vostok Station](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vostok_Station) woodpile walks to you. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2018, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-made-from-dead-birds/820250/8 "2018-08-25T22:22:37Z")
> [@bibliophage](#): > > Better to light a petrel than to curse the duckness. (rimshot) Some animals are useless as meat, unless people are starving, because they just plain old don’t taste good. I’ve definitely heard this about swans. But why not use them this way if you can? ---
**Author:** ![jjakucyk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3d9bf3/32.png) [@jjakucyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjakucyk)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2018, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-made-from-dead-birds/820250/9 "2018-08-26T03:37:17Z")
The Secret Life of Machines episode about the electric light mentioned both petrels and penguins. Granted the cartoon animation just showed someone clubbing the bird and immediately jamming a wick down its throat. A little bit of artistic license there, along with the penguin’s flame being so bright and long-lived as to bother the people trying to sleep. But I’m pleasantly surprised to know the penguin thing wasn’t just made up. Look it up on YouTube, I’m pretty sure all the episodes are there. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mr.Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Bill)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2018, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-made-from-dead-birds/820250/10 "2018-08-26T04:13:17Z")
Actually, in the Middle Ages, Swans were considered mighty fine eating. In fact they were reserved for royalty to eat. [https://modernfarmer.com/2014/05/come/](https://modernfarmer.com/2014/05/come/) ---
**Author:** ![jjakucyk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3d9bf3/32.png) [@jjakucyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjakucyk)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2018, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-made-from-dead-birds/820250/11 "2018-08-26T15:07:27Z")
> [@jjakucyk](#): > > The Secret Life of Machines episode about the electric light mentioned both petrels and penguins. Granted the cartoon animation just showed someone clubbing the bird and immediately jamming a wick down its throat. A little bit of artistic license there, along with the penguin’s flame being so bright and long-lived as to bother the people trying to sleep. But I’m pleasantly surprised to know the penguin thing wasn’t just made up. Look it up on YouTube, I’m pretty sure all the episodes are there. Ah here we go 😃[https://youtu.be/8klJEX1pmPQ?t=1m49s](https://youtu.be/8klJEX1pmPQ?t=1m49s) ---
**Author:** ![RedSwinglineOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a9adbd/32.png) [@RedSwinglineOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedSwinglineOne)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2018, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-made-from-dead-birds/820250/12 "2018-08-27T20:22:43Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Apparently, some birds contained so much fat that there was apparently a way to just stick a wick in a dead bird and use it as candle. [Works with humans too.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wick_effect) ---
**Author:** ![Roy\_Batty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Roy\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roy_Batty)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2018, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-made-from-dead-birds/820250/13 "2018-08-27T20:33:19Z")
Weird- and I thought I heard it all 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2018, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-made-from-dead-birds/820250/14 "2018-08-27T20:34:33Z")
I clicked in because I thought the thread title was asking about “candies.” I was going to suggest Werther’s Original. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2018, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-made-from-dead-birds/820250/15 "2018-08-27T21:33:04Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > I clicked in because I thought the thread title was asking about “candies.” I was going to suggest Werther’s Original. Grandma candies are made from dead birds? Would explain why they’re always feeding the damned things. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2018, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-made-from-dead-birds/820250/16 "2018-08-28T01:51:18Z")
> [@Arkcon](#): > > If the fish or bird depends on other smaller fish that graze on these bacteria exclusively, they’re not good eats Well, that and they only weigh about an ounce, feathers, bones, and all. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2018, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-made-from-dead-birds/820250/17 "2018-08-28T02:11:56Z")
> [@Arkcon](#): > > [Oilfish - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oilfish) Another fish used as a source of light is the [eulachon or candlefish of Alaska and the Northwest coast:](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eulachon?wprov=sfla1): > [@](#): > > The name “candlefish” derives from it being so fat during spawning, with up to 15% of total body weight in fat, that if caught, dried, and strung on a wick, it can be burned as a candle. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2018, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-made-from-dead-birds/820250/18 "2018-08-28T22:43:02Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > Grandma candies are made from dead birds? > > Would explain why they’re always feeding the damned things. 🙂 I first got these from my Oma too. ---
**Author:** ![Sloe\_Moe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Sloe\_Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sloe_Moe)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2018, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-made-from-dead-birds/820250/19 "2018-08-29T00:19:42Z")
> [@RedSwinglineOne](#): > > [Works with humans too.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wick_effect) Some [parts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_of_Glory) produce the best results though. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2018, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candles-made-from-dead-birds/820250/20 "2018-08-29T15:43:27Z")
> [@RedSwinglineOne](#): > > [Works with humans too.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wick_effect) Jeez. > [@Sloe\_Moe](#): > > Some [parts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_of_Glory) produce the best results though. Jeez Louise. Cite–\>“Hand of Glory” (because **Sloe Moe** was so modest): The Hand of Glory is the dried and pickled hand of a man who has been hanged, often specified as being the left (Latin: sinister) hand, or, if the man were hanged for murder, the hand that “did the deed.” Old European beliefs attribute great powers to a Hand of Glory combined with a candle made from fat from the corpse of the same malefactor who died on the gallows. The candle so made, lighted, and placed (as if in a candlestick) in the Hand of Glory, would have rendered motionless all persons to whom it was presented. The process for preparing the hand and the candle are described in 18th century documents, with certain steps disputed due to difficulty in properly translating phrases from that era.