'The Whole Story' about Candles !!!

Fire as you may know has been around for thousands of years since the beginning of everything. From the fiery pits of hell to the centre of our Sun, fire has always fascinated the society who has been able to experience it. It wasn't until the late 100 A.D’s that society desired to be able to control fire in some other way than torches. In the days before the invention of the candle, people known as ‘lighters’ were responsible for lighting various torches throughout the big cities. Of course this was no easy job since many torches were in some odd places far off reach. Lighters started to complain that their job was much more tiring than any other in the whole city and so the professions started to degrade and disappear.

It wasn't until Apollo Vulcan, a young apprentice of a blacksmith decided that his job prospect was not going to be a lighter like his father, so he invented an earlier model of a candle. Basically he took a sheep’s stomach and filled it with wool which he then lit. This weird mix of substances actually caused the fat within the sheep's stomach to ignite and to keep the wool lit for up to 3 days without exhaustion. This was a messy invention to say the least. Apollo tried to introduce this method to various cities in the Roman Empire, however lords and ladies did not want to have a sheep’s stomach serving as a chandelier in the middle of their dining room. Not to talk about the smell! Let’s just say that this wasn't the best way to tame fire. Torches were continued to use through the ages until the 15^th century.

Humphrey Blackwell, an experienced doctor who had fame for being able to cure anything in the 15^th century London city was inspired by one of the many mentally ill patients which he tried to help. Of course in these ages, the causes behind mental illnesses were not entirely known to man, but he thought that by talking and trying to interact with them and ‘treat’ them in some way he could alleviate some of their illness. John Fleetwood, a patient of Dr. Blackwell once had a dream where he could take some berries, crush them together with rum and create a liquid which would serve as a light. Dr. Blackwell unsure of the patients’ sanity decided to test this theory. He and his close friend Robert Seymour, a young scientist apprentice decided to try all of the possible berry combinations with this. It was unfortunately in vain, as all of the ingredients that were mixed together seemed to be unable to create or even attempt to combust.  Seeing that there was no possible mixture that could work both men gave up on this ‘ridiculous and absurd dream’.  Later on that same year, John Fleetwood was found dead in his room. By his side a liquid was burning and a note was next to it.

When Dr. Blackwell found this it simply read “I did it.” This strange liquid contained little berries which were still intact inside of the rum which seemed to stick together and create a layer of wax that was able to ignite. These berries had come from the deep jungles of Asia where they were known as fire eating berries due to their ability of making one’s tongue seem on fire. This was certainly the discovery of the century.

Along the years, this fire eating berry candle was introduced to the rest of the world, taking on a lot of fame amongst both peasants since it was easy to make, and kings and queens. In the 16^Th century, Galileo found out that by adding to this mixture other berries such as strawberries and flowers, such as lavender and camomile's, he could make an essence candle. From then on, scientists and many other people began to realise how easy candle making could be, and the profession was born.

It wasn’t only after Leonardo Da Vinci found out how to make somewhat a waxy substance, much like the one still used today that candle making took on full force. Candles were everywhere during the 16^Th and the 17^Th century. Somehow though, candles seemed to become unpopular between the highest classes since most peasants also owned them and obviously the higher class wasn't going to tolerate such thing so they invented rumours about candle makers and myths about candles serving a darker purpose and soon enough they were buried beneath lies.

Up and mostly through the 19^Th century they were eventually re-born again and through all of the 20^Th century they regained their fame and now came in all shapes and forms. So here it is, from the lighters in the early Roman days, to the famous Leonardo Da Vinci who actually painted Mona Lisa by ‘candle light’, the true story of how candles were created. Well, at least that’s what I believe in. So next time you think you know everything about anything, don’t go and watch ‘The Whole Story’ videos, just ask me!!