# Whence/what: practice of one candle in each window (PA area) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 28, 2009, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-what-practice-of-one-candle-in-each-window-pa-area/483444 "2009-01-28T21:54:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-what-practice-of-one-candle-in-each-window-pa-area/483444/1 "2009-01-28T21:54:23Z")
I’m new to the middle of Pennsylvania (coming from the west coast) and I’m seeing something here that I’m not familiar with: well appointed-looking houses with a single (fake, light-bulb type) candle placed in the middle of each window sill (not just an X-mas thing but seems to be year round, unless I’m mistaken). Is this a (real of cheesy fantasy) PA German tradition? Or. . . PA and other easterny people, what is this all about? (I have never in my life seen so many of the tacky little porch flag-things with seasonal crap on them either, but that’s a different issue) ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-what-practice-of-one-candle-in-each-window-pa-area/483444/2 "2009-01-28T22:44:24Z")
Hmm… was that our house you were looking at? Some people use them only as Christmas decorations. Other people leave them up all year long. They are supposed to mean that your home is warm and friendly (for visitors). It’s kind of an old fashioned thing. It’s mostly a rural tradition, and if it is tied to any specific ethnic background I’m not aware of it. I live near Gettysburg, by the way. ---
**Author:** ![Strange\_Machine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@Strange\_Machine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strange_Machine)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-what-practice-of-one-candle-in-each-window-pa-area/483444/3 "2009-01-28T23:35:13Z")
I live in rural western PA, and in my parent’s house they were Christmas decorations that stayed up most of the year, and rarely plugged in (Colored as candy canes, or surrounded in fake mistletoe/poinsettias). My grandparents are super religious and had fancy electric candles in each window. [American Family Traditions](http://www.americanfamilytraditions.com/Candle_in_the_Window.htm) says it’s a pretty generic tradition with lots of cultures using candles in the window for the same purpose of general hospitality. Also says that candles in windows show support of troops at war, but I never heard that one personally. One anecdote with more meaning: [Western Catholic Reporter](http://www.wcr.ab.ca/news/2004/1220/candle122004.shtml) > [@](#): > > Candles in the window, during British-occupied Ireland, while enchanting indeed, also spoke a real, pragmatic message. The Catholics placed three pillars of flame in the window - one for the Father, one for the Son and one for the Holy Spirit. > > Passing fellow Catholics knew by the three flames of faith that this was Catholic home and that they were welcome there. Priests also knew they too could find a warm meal in that home and could say the Christmas Eve Mass there in safety and in peace. > > But didn’t the British authorities wonder about the candles? Sure, and when they asked, the homeowners just told them the light was to direct Mary and Joseph - “To light the way for the Lore” - and the door would be left unlatched so they could find a place to stay. > > Disarmed by the explanation, the British dismissed the glowing candles as just another bit of Irish superstition and left them in peace. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-what-practice-of-one-candle-in-each-window-pa-area/483444/4 "2009-01-28T23:44:11Z")
to help people find their way to the house (or for those who live in the house to find their way home). rural areas do not have many lights, even a small light in a window can be seen for quite a ways off. very, very, important in bad weather. “i’ll leave the light on for you.” is something, esp. older people would say when someone leaves their house. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-what-practice-of-one-candle-in-each-window-pa-area/483444/5 "2009-01-29T00:45:16Z")
My house had them when I moved in. I took them down. Not because I have anything against them, but my front yard is all trees, no one could see them and it seemed like a waste of energy.