# Lighting A Candle In Rememberance

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lighting-a-candle-in-rememberance/495985>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 11, 2009, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lighting-a-candle-in-rememberance/495985 "2009-05-11T01:22:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![UncleFred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f0a364/32.png) [@UncleFred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleFred)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lighting-a-candle-in-rememberance/495985/1 "2009-05-11T01:22:18Z")

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When did the practice originate of lighting a (votive) candle in rememberance of someone?

I am thinking specifically of in the Roman Catholic Church. I waited today while a relative lit one and it made me wonder. Is this formally described in the church doctrine, or just something people started doing?

Google only gave up that’s its been going on “for centuries”.

I’m not asking about the other uses of candles in the various ceremonies - I’ve seen that also - just that related to individuals in the congregation lighting them in rememberance of someone.

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lighting-a-candle-in-rememberance/495985/2 "2009-05-11T06:28:34Z")

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Probably inherited the custom from \*yahrzeit \*candles of the Jews.

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**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lighting-a-candle-in-rememberance/495985/3 "2009-05-11T06:59:43Z")

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Buddhists do the same.

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**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lighting-a-candle-in-rememberance/495985/4 "2009-05-11T07:02:46Z")

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As do Hindus.

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**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lighting-a-candle-in-rememberance/495985/5 "2009-05-11T07:05:13Z")

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I grew up Alabama Presbyterian. We light tires because we loved our relatives more.

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**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lighting-a-candle-in-rememberance/495985/6 "2009-05-11T17:20:29Z")

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It is remembrance.