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A History of Candles in Mexican Culture

Candles have illuminated Mexican culture for centuries, moving beyond simply providing light to becoming symbols of tradition, art, and spirituality. Their flickering light holds a special place in homes, ceremonies, and festivals, deeply rooted in Mexico’s rich cultural heritage. At De Rosa Candles, we’re proud to honor this tradition with our own creations, blending artisanal craftsmanship and modern design inspired by the beauty of Mexico.

The Origin of Candles in Mexico

The use of candles in Mexico dates back to the colonial period when Spanish missionaries introduced them as part of religious practices. However, the indigenous peoples of Mexico already had their own methods of creating light. The Maya, for instance, used copal, a resin from local trees as incense and for ceremonial fires. When candles arrived, they were quickly adapted into these existing traditions, merging European and indigenous practices into something uniquely Mexican.

In early Mexican history, candles were primarily used in religious ceremonies, particularly in Catholic rituals. Churches relied on their steady glow for lighting and as an offering to saints. Over time, candles became an essential part of daily life, used in celebrations, prayers, and even as a guide for departed souls during significant holidays like Día de los Muertos.

The Art of Traditional Candle-Making

Mexican candles are often handmade using techniques passed down through generations. Traditionally, animal fat was the primary material, but with the availability of modern waxes, paraffin and beeswax became more common.

The process begins with melting the wax, which is then poured into molds or hand-dipped repeatedly to create the desired thickness. For ceremonial candles, artisans often carve intricate designs or add embellishments like dried flowers, colorful dyes, or ribbons. These details not only enhance the aesthetic appeal but also convey symbolic meanings, such as protection, love, or blessings.

Candles in the Mexican Home

In Mexican households, candles are both practical and spiritual. Many homes feature an altar adorned with candles, religious icons, and personal mementos, serving as a focal point for prayer and reflection. During special occasions, such as baptisms, weddings, and holidays, candles play a central role in the celebrations, symbolizing purity, hope, and divine presence.

One of the most iconic uses of candles is during Día de los Muertos. Families light candles on altars and graves to guide the spirits of their loved ones back to the world of the living. The flickering light represents remembrance, love, and the enduring connection between generations.

How De Rosa Home Decor Honors Tradition

At De Rosa Home Decor, we draw inspiration from this deep cultural heritage to create candles that are not just decorative but also meaningful. Our designs are inspired by traditional Mexican Talavera. Each candle is a celebration of Mexican artistry, handcrafted with care and a touch of modern style.

We use high-quality organic waxes, including soy and beeswax, to ensure as clean a burn as possible. The waxes are sourced from a candle company that has been around for more than 130 years.

Bringing the Glow Home

Candles are more than just a source of light, they’re a way to connect with history, tradition, and the people we love. At De Rosa Home Decor, we invite you to bring this timeless glow into your home. Explore our collection and discover how our candles can add a touch of Mexican heritage and contemporary design to your everyday life.

Light a candle. Share a moment. Celebrate the story.

Candle Care

FOR BEST RESULTS

Use a heat-proof holder on a flat, draft-free surface.
Never leave a burning candle unattended or move it while lit.
Trim the wick to 1/4 in. before each use.
For optimal results, limit burn time to 2 hours.
Stop burning when 1 in. of wax remains.
During the first burn, allow the melt pool to almost reach the edges to prevent tunnelling.

While all of our candles undergo thorough testing, please note that they are handmade, and individual candles may burn slightly differently.

How to Burn a Candle Safely

Before Lighting:

Before burning, always trim the wick to ¼ inch. You can use a wick trimmer, nail clippers, or scissors. Long or crooked wicks can cause uneven burning, dripping or flaring.
Keep the wax pool clear of wick trimmings, matches and debris at all times.
Always use a candleholder specifically designed for candle use. It should be heat resistant, sturdy, and large enough to contain any drips or melted wax.

Burn candles in a well-ventilated room:

Avoid drafts, vents or air currents. This will help prevent rapid or uneven burning, sooting, and excessive dripping.
Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations on burn time and proper use. In general, it is recommended that candles do not burn for longer than four hours and cool for at least two hours before relighting.
When lighting a candle, use long matches or a long-reach lighter. Keep your hair and loose clothing away from the flame.

While Burning:

Never leave a candle unattended.
Never burn a candle on or near anything that can catch fire. Keep burning candles away from furniture, drapes, bedding, carpets, books, paper, flammable decorations, etc.
Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets. Do not place lighted candles where they can be knocked over by children, pets or anyone else.
Never touch or move a candle while it is burning or while the wax is liquefied.
Don’t burn a candle all the way down. For a margin of safety, discontinue burning a candle when 1 inches remains.
Place burning candles at least three inches apart from one another. This is to make sure they don’t melt one another, or create their own drafts that will cause the candles to burn improperly.
Extinguish a candle if the flame becomes too high or flickers repeatedly. Let the candle cool, trim the wick, and check for unwanted drafts before re-lighting.
Never use a candle as a night light or while you may fall asleep.
Be very careful if using candles during a power outage. Flashlights and other battery-powered lights are safer sources of light during a power failure. Never use a candle during a power outage to look for things in a closet, or when fueling equipment – such as a lantern or kerosene heater.

When Extinguishing a Candle:

Use a candle snuffer to extinguish a candle. It’s the safest way to prevent hot wax from splattering.
Never use water to extinguish a candle. Water can cause the hot wax to splatter and might break a glass container.
Make sure the candle is completely out and the wick ember is no longer glowing before leaving the room.
Don’t touch or move the candle until it has completely cooled.

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PARA OBTENER MEJORES RESULTADOS

Utiliza un soporte resistente al calor en una superficie plana y libre de corrientes de aire.
Nunca dejes una vela encendida sin supervisión ni la muevas mientras esté encendida.
Recorta la mecha a 5 mm antes de cada uso.
Para obtener resultados óptimos, limita el tiempo de quemado a 2 horas.
Deja de quemarla cuando queden 2 pulgadas de cera.
Durante la primera quema, permite que el charco de cera casi alcance los bordes para evitar la formación de túneles.
Aunque todas nuestras velas son sometidas a pruebas exhaustivas, ten en cuenta que son hechas a mano y es posible que cada vela queme ligeramente de manera diferente.

Cómo quemar una vela de manera segura

Antes de encender:

Antes de quemarla, siempre recorta la mecha a ¼ de pulgada. Puedes usar un corta mechas, cortaúñas o tijeras. Las mechas largas o torcidas pueden causar quemado desigual, goteo o flambeo.
Mantén la piscina de cera limpia de recortes de mechas, fósforos y residuos en todo momento.
Siempre usa un portavelas específicamente diseñado para el uso de velas. Debe ser resistente al calor, robusto y lo suficientemente grande como para contener cualquier goteo o cera derretida.

Quema velas en una habitación bien ventilada:

Evita corrientes de aire, rejillas de ventilación o corrientes de aire. Esto ayudará a prevenir la quema rápida o desigual, el hollín y el goteo excesivo.
Sigue las recomendaciones del fabricante sobre el tiempo de quemado y el uso adecuado. En general, se recomienda que las velas no quemen durante más de cuatro horas y se enfríen durante al menos dos horas antes de volver a encenderlas.
Al encender una vela, usa cerillas largas o un encendedor de largo alcance. Mantén tu cabello y ropa suelta alejados de la llama.

Mientras esté quemando:

Nunca dejes una vela desatendida.
Nunca quemes una vela sobre o cerca de algo que pueda incendiarse. Mantén las velas encendidas alejadas de muebles, cortinas, ropa de cama, alfombras, libros, papel, decoraciones inflamables, etc.
Mantén las velas fuera del alcance de los niños y las mascotas. No coloques velas encendidas donde puedan ser derribadas por niños, mascotas o cualquier otra persona.
Nunca toques ni muevas una vela mientras esté quemando o mientras la cera esté licuada.
No quemes una vela hasta el final. Por margen de seguridad, deja de quemar una vela cuando quede 1/2 pulgada en el contenedor o 2 pulgadas si estás usando una vela de pilar.
Coloca las velas encendidas al menos a tres pulgadas de distancia unas de otras. Esto es para asegurarte de que no se derritan entre sí o creen sus propias corrientes de aire que harán que las velas quemen incorrectamente.
Extintingue una vela si la llama se vuelve demasiado alta o parpadea repetidamente. Deja que la vela se enfríe, recorta la mecha y verifica las corrientes de aire no deseadas antes de volver a encenderla.
Nunca uses una vela como luz nocturna o mientras puedes quedarte dormido.
Ten mucho cuidado si usas velas durante un corte de energía. Linternas y otras luces alimentadas por baterías son fuentes de luz más seguras durante una falla de energía.
Nunca uses una vela durante un corte de energía para buscar cosas en un armario o al cargar equipos, como una linterna o un calentador de queroseno.

Al extinguir una vela:

Usa un apagavelas para extinguir una vela. Es la forma más segura de evitar que la cera caliente salpique.
Nunca uses agua para apagar una vela. El agua puede hacer que la cera caliente salpique y podría romper un recipiente de vidrio.
Asegúrate de que la vela esté completamente apagada y que la brasa de la mecha ya no esté brillando antes de salir de la habitación.
No toques ni muevas la vela hasta que se haya enfriado por completo.

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