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Romance by Candlelight
By PAShopGirl | August 21, 2008
There is a reason it is a cliché: everything is more romantic by candlelight. Candlelight softens every line and makes everything seem to glow as if from the inside. Even the age old art of courting was done by candlelight, hence the courting candle.
Not so long ago in American culture, it was unseemly for unmarried men and women to keep company without chaperones and for unlimited amounts of time. It was common for young men to court a young lady mostly through her family, particularly with permission and approval of her father. He would enter the home and talk to her parents, attempting to gain their approval. If he did, the young man was then escorted into the parlor where the young lady would be waiting. The story goes that then the father would mount a candle in a wrought iron spiral courting candle, telling the suitor and his daughter that they could visit until the fire reached the top of the candleholder. If he liked the young man and wanted him to have a significant chance to win his daughter’s affections, the father would mount the candle on a small block of wood placed at the bottom of the spiral candleholder thus extending his time with her. If the father did not approve of the suitor, he would simply put the candle into the holder, shorting the length of the stay in their home.
While we do not as a culture practice the social art of courting anymore, it is a lovely and romantic concept that you can bring into your modern life. Wrought iron courting candles are still around for you to bring into your home. Instead of measuring the time to court, it can still measure a period to be romantic as the calming candlelight and the sweet history to this piece can enhance your time with your significant other. The candlelight could measure the time you have to enjoy a coffee break with your significant other after dinner or a cup of tea before snuggling into bed. If a courting candle is just too old fashioned for you, then some wall sconces or a few well-placed votive holders can perform the same function without deterring from your personal style. Just remember to extinguish the candle’s flame before you are off to enjoy a little more romance of your own!
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