| |
| |
|
Interior Decorating Information |
|
The Legend of the Bayberry Candle
When colonial families settled on the Eastern seaboard, they set about on their "women's work". Each day, the women of the house were responsible for the cooking, cleaning and care of the home. In late fall, as the animals were slaughtered, women would begin making candles for the following year. The average home would require approximately 200 - 400 candles to illuminate the home for a year. Tallow, or animal fat, was collected throughout the year, but slaughter always brought more fat to the home. As candle making was grueling and smelly work, the bulk of it was done in a single day. Tallow can be quite foul after a few weeks. Imagine how much worse it must be after several months! In more affluent homes, the women would make candles from beeswax or bayberry wax, as the aroma was far sweeter than anything an animal would leave behind. Women would gather bushels of bayberries and boil them for several hours. This heating process allowed the waxy substance to seep from the berries. As the wax has a natural buoyancy, the wax floated to the top of the kettle. Once the wax cooled, it was skimmed off much the same way we skim chicken fat from cooled broth today. It takes approximately 15 pounds of bayberries to render one pound of wax. Bayberry wax is brittle by nature, and prone to "blooming", which is a white powdery residue that forms on the outside of the candle after several months. Candles had to be stored in a cool flat place to protect their fragile shape. Over time, chandlers made their rounds, relieving women of the chore of candle making. Eventually, molds and paraffins were developed to replace tallow and chandlers altogether. Bayberry has seen a resurgence in popularity over the last 100 years. Mabel Baker, founder of Colonial Candle of Cape Cod (later PartyLite, a division of Blythe HomeScents, Inc.) made her mark in the early 20th century making hand dipped bayberry tapers. Unfortunately, the company no longer offers candles made from genuine bayberry wax. Colonist folklore states that if you light a new bayberry candle on Christmas Eve, you'll have health, wealth and prosperity in the coming year. The adage reads: A bayberry candle burnt to the socket brings food to the larder and gold to the pocket. This holiday, look for taper candles made with genuine bayberry wax. The sweet, grassy aroma is a pleasant holiday fragrance. Burn one taper on Christmas Eve, and ring in a new year of health, wealth and prosperity! Lisa Robbin is the Director of Product Development for the giving candle, the maker of genuine bayberry tapers and Heavenly Gems resin-based clear candles. Lisa writes articles on all things candle related in an effort to educate consumers about making the most out of their candle purchases. You can email her directly at lisa@thegivingcandle.com
MORE RESOURCES:
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Teen Rooms on the Cheap! How to decorate a teens bedroom is one of the most common questions Ireceive. Especially for those on a budget, this can seem like adaunting task! Never fear, The Budget Decorator is here!Teen rooms are different for kids rooms in that they should be treatedmore like an adult space, but with a fun flair. Bedroom Benches - The Ease of Decorating With Them Do you want to add a sense of style and sophistication to your bedroom space but are not sure how to accomplish it? Do you have a large bedroom that would benefit from the addition of a gorgeous, functional piece of furniture? Is your bedroom lacking in closet space? If so, you should consider getting a bedroom bench.Far from being just another piece of furniture, bedroom benches bring unparalleled grace and elegance to bedrooms with all types of décor. The Function of Wine Storage Racks Storing wines is crucial to keeping wines flavor and letting it age to perfection. Wine cellars are an ideal way to store wines for long durations. Home Décor Tips To Impress Your Friends Step 1: Pick a motif and go with it! Don't pair your childhood bedspread with a new wrought iron bed and lace curtains. Choose colors that remind you of things you love. Finding Discount Waterbed Sheets Consumers may be led to believe that waterbed sheets are more expensive than conventional sheets, but this is not true. Cheap waterbed sheets are easy to come by. Your Heritage and Personal Decorating Style Ethnic traditions, customs, and attitudes carry forward our family values. Paying tribute to family heritage and tradition also gives our children a strong sense of family ties. Easy Dining Room Makeover A dining room can be such a fantastic place to entertain, but it can easily be underused if you often eat in the kitchen or in front of the telly instead. Here are a few hints to make it a more special place to spend time?1) Adding a table cloth and a vase (a pint glass or milkbottle will do for that 'shabby chic' look that is very in at the moment) full of flowers (pick wild ones from your garden/balcony or pick a small bunch of something simple like freesias and gypsophila at your local florist/supermarket) adds instant homely atmosphere to a dining room. What are HEPA Air Filters? The Environmental Protection Agency has determined that almost 90% of the people spend their time indoors. This means that indoor air quality is much more important than outdoor air quality for most people. Oriental Area Rugs - Know Before You Buy an Oriental Rug Did you know that you can usually tell the country from which an Oriental rug originated from its design and style? While we often think of 'Oriental rugs' as having an overall defining style, the truth is that there are many styles of Oriental rugs, most of them growing from traditional patterns and materials common to the country or area in which they originated. Experts in Oriental rugs spend years learning the variations of patterns, materials, colors and weave that are characteristic of the different areas of the Orient. The Demand for Massage Therapy Chairs Massage therapists are in high demand. Consumers recognize the physical and mental health benefits of a good massage. Bringing the Inside Out The time of year is here when we all start spending more time outside. Look at your deck or backyard as an additional room. Take The Clothes Off Your Rooms and Let Them Breathe Its summertime and the livin' is easy or at least you want it to free, easy and comfortable in the summer heat. We all want to lighten up and just breathe and move freely in the summer. The ABC of Being a Good Interior Designer It may seem that all you need to be a good interior designer is a sense of aesthetics and a flair for design. That is a good start, yes, but it gets you about five feet forward in terms of your career. Contemporary Rugs Can Transform a Room When tackling a do-it-yourself home decorating project, you can use rugs as a relatively inexpensive means of enhancing or transforming a room. There are practical considerations in how to use rugs to advantage, and how to get good value for your money. Bedroom Furniture Buying bedroom furniture can be an exciting time; unfortunately if you have not shopped for bedroom furniture in awhile or this is your first time to buy bedroom furniture on your own you may not be well versed in the many different kinds of bedroom furniture available.Confusion about bedroom furniture often arises in the different sizes of beds and mattresses available. Rustic Country Decor - How to Decorate Cottage Style Homes Rustic country decor and how to decorate cottage style homes are extensions of American country style decorating. In addition, traditions are borrowed from French, English and some Swedish country looks. Picnic Baskets for Two Picnic baskets for two provide an intimate way to celebrate any occasion, whether it be a much-needed period of time spent alone with your mate or a reunion between friends. Instead of using paper plates, paper napkins, plastic cups, and plasticware, why not step it up a bit? But how are you going to carry all those fine china plates, wine glasses, large water thermoses, and other odds and ends?You might consider browsing for picnic baskets for two. Home Decorating: Planning Lightning When you are choosing a bathroom light fixtures or lightning for any room in your home, the first thing to take into account is how that room will be used and, thus, the type of lightning you will need. Light is very important in a room, because it affects colors and makes them seem lighter or darker. Shabby Chic Bedding Can Add An Elegant Vintage Touch to Your Room! Shabby Chic bedding is definitely the answer if you are looking for style and comfort with a touch of softness in your bedroom. Shabby chic is a very simplistic yet stylish method of decor, using bedding, linens, and window treatments with a time worn elegance. Easy And Inexpensive Kitchen Decorating Tips Small changes can have a big effect on how your kitchen looks. Below are 11 decorating ideas that you can do yourself in a day or less.
|
| home | site map | contact us |
