One of the things I love about traveling internationally is the opportunity to learn about other cultures. I’m not talking about the obvious things like a particular mode of dress or languages spoken – those are things one can Google. I am talking about the subtle, nuanced things that require “boots on the ground” and “eyes wide open” to see, and you may still miss it. Although my trip to Ethiopia was a year ago, I am still going through my photos, discovering cultural gems hidden in the mundane. Capturing people engaged in activities of daily living provides the most insight for me.
I snapped this shot of a young man selling his wares in front of a church in Lalibela. I had no idea what he was selling, but I was curious. When I learned that those sticks, which I erroneously thought were cloth, were candles, I was surprised. When I learned about the symbolism contained there, I was further intrigued.
How Ethiopian Beeswax Church Candles Are Made
Ethiopian church candles are traditionally made from 100% beeswax. Harvested from local beehives, melted, and filtered, they may range in color from pale yellow to deep amber. The shade depends on the nectar and flowers the bees captured, the age of the comb, and the degree of filtration. The wax is stretched and rolled by hand into long, thin rods. You can see the candles are handmade from the slightly irregular shape.
Cotton fiber wrapping
The candles are wrapped in hand-spun raw cotton fiber. This acts as a protective wrap, which helps reinforce the wick. The white ends are known as “shint”. The shint keeps the bundle together and protects the ends of the candles during transport. Candles are usually sold in bundles of 12, each bundle containing 33 candles. Twelve represents the apostles, and 33 symbolizes the years Christ was on earth.
The symbolism of the candle: the wax represents the body; the wick, the soul; the flame, divine light.
What the Colors Mean
While the natural shades of beeswax are not inherently symbolic, yellow in the Ethiopian Orthodox context is often associated with divine light and God’s presence. The white cotton shint symbolizes holiness and purity. Occasionally, red or multicolored threads are utilized.
Red = sacrifice or Christ’s blood
Green = rebirth, life
Yellow = divinity
(These appear more commonly during celebrations, such as Meskel or Timkat.)
Pilgrims often buy them outside church entrances and light them before icons, altars, and crosses. The candles are also carried during processions, given as offerings for prayers and blessings, or placed on rock shelves inside churches, such as Biete Maryam, Biete Medhane Alem, or near Biete Golgotha.
Up Next: Cultural Snapshot: Healing Scrolls
