They say you should never blow out a candle. Instead, you should use a candle snuffer. Anyone know the reason?
2007-06-05 09:15:03 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I guess I should clarify. I'm not talking about the practical reasons here- we're extremely careful to keep our candles away from any potential fire hazards.
2007-06-05 09:29:48 · update #1
All the people talking about hot wax don't know what they are talking about. Who the hell blows wax all over the place when blowing out a candle? Honestly, do they have some kind of hurricane breath?
Magic involving the use of candles is said to work better or more effectively if the rituals are performed in the right manner. The act of blowing out a candle is said to disturb the energies used in the ritual. Users are instructed or encouraged to pinch out the candle rather than blowing.
Honestly, I have tried both methods and not noticed a difference in the outcome. Ritualistic magic is a bit of a personal thing, and its workings may vary from person to person. Kinda like how they say you should write your own spells rather than following the steps from someone else's spellbook.
So much of it is hokey anyway that it's probably not worth it to get mixed up in magic at all.
2007-06-05 09:33:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The reason you should not blow out a candle is that molten wax can easily be splashed back into your eyes. I've seen it happen several times and it is excruciatingly painful. If you don't have a snuffer handy, lick your thumb and index finger and pinch the flame out. It's totally painless and much, much safer. Pinching the flame out is also better than either blowing or snuffing because the wick won't smoke afterwards and fill the house with that stinky hot wax vapor.
2007-06-05 09:22:50 · answer #2 · answered by Diogenes 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's many reasons:
- The flame could reach another flammable surface if you blow on it enough to make the flame go sideways.
-Hot dripping wax could fly off and hit said flammable surface or even skin.
-Blowing can cause the wick to settle off-center. If the flame burns too close to the candle-holder (if it's close to the flame) it could damage the surface. I learned this the hard way when a burning off-center wick shattered the glass on a votive holder.
There is also a spiritual reason that I was told (so it might not necessarily be true, it's just a belief)... that blowing on a flame (or blowing in general during a candle-based ritual) scares watching spirits away like bells scare faeries away.
2007-06-05 09:25:33 · answer #3 · answered by artist_dude_421 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm sorry, the answer will seem really snarky....
In traditional magic and votive offerings, a candle has to be completely burned away. (The law of sympathy explains why.)
People won't pay $10 for a candle that can burn away in a couple of hours, so New age stores started a myth that blowing out a candle will "disperse" the energies...and started selling $20 candle snuffers.
If you do traditional CM, you cut a wick with the left knife to put a candle out, and then only rarely.
2007-06-05 09:20:01 · answer #4 · answered by LabGrrl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The practical reason would be to prevent blowing hot wax off the candle.
Makes sense considering how long people used tallow candles for light. Fat-based wax on the wall, floor and furnishings could be a nightmare. Safety issue as well.
2007-06-05 09:23:13 · answer #5 · answered by muppetkiller_2000 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who has candle snuffers now-a-days?! Maybe it was safer in the old days when the candles were softer, not to blow them out and blow hot wax out!
2007-06-05 09:21:18 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not your birthday,yet. But if you don't,then the cake will be all waxy...so go ahead....If you use the snuffer method at 70 years of age,that would be way over the edge tedious...LOL
remember,no cake until you eat all of your candles. Seriously, I don't know why.
2007-06-05 09:20:51 · answer #7 · answered by bonsai bobby 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You most likely will be blowing melted candle wax all over the place and ruin the table it is on. No big mystery here.
2007-06-05 09:19:13 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
U r lighting candles as a sign to show that the year ahead should be as bright as those candles.. And u r blowing them since it is not auspicious to let them go off by themselves
2016-05-17 12:15:41 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had heard and still have people fuss at me saying that it's an insult to the fire energies. I refuse to listen and say it's not.
Now I had to forbide my boys, when they were little, from blowing them out because they would blow so hard that wax would wind up on the walls.
2007-06-05 09:27:49 · answer #10 · answered by Janet L 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋