Give the Gift of Candlelight

(ARA) - Do you have some hard-to-buy-for people on your list this year? What about all those last-minute hostess gifts you need to get? If you are looking for a present that almost anyone would enjoy, consider candles.

Not only do scented candles provide a festive glow and a pleasing aroma, they are extremely versatile. Whatever someones lifestyle or interests are, chances are good there is a candle for them.

There are so many types of candles and accessories to choose from these days, its hard to know where to start. Tapers used to be the only choice; now candles come in all shapes, sizes, scents and colors -- even shimmering and glitter tone options.

Think about what your gift recipient may want to use it for, and that will help you sort through all the choices, says Susan Stockman of Yankee Candle Company, a Massachusetts-based candle designer and retailer. Some people may want simple candles for the dinner table and others may enjoy something more decorative for the living room or the den.

For creating a holiday atmosphere, there are all kinds of options in the scented category. Here are just a few Yankee Candle ideas: Cranberry Chutney (tangy aroma of a real cranberry delicacy), Mistletoe (it just wouldnt be the holidays without the woodsy ambiance of aromatic evergreens), Festival of Lights (a joyful blend of savory spices, cinnamon and potpourri) and Holiday Bayberry (the evergreen aroma of a colonial favorite is infused with the glow of seasonal spices to create a warm, comfortable haven).

The trend this year is embellishment, says Yankee Candle gift designer Jennifer Stathatos. A lot of candle accessories and packaging have beading, mosaics or fluffy accents. You can definitely find something for every taste.

Yankee Candle is making things even easier this year by offering a line of reusable gift bags that are a gift in themselves. You can drop a jar candle inside of a simple organza gift bag and the recipient can later use it for a small evening purse or as wrapping for another gift. Decorative bags also come in silk and felt, some with embroidered designs and feather accents. There is a size to fit every gift, whether it is just one item or several.

Non-traditional containers such as a coffee pot filled with Hazelnut Coffee-scented votive candles, a bag of gourmet coffee beans and some holiday cookies make a welcome gift. Or consider a rustic basket filled with Balsam Fir candles, some pinecones and bird ornaments for a nature-lovers tree. Any personalized candle gift will say to the recipient that youve put thought and care into their gift -- and thats the best gift of all!

For more gift ideas and information, visit www.yankeecandle.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

Courtesy of ARA Content

A Candle

I had written this poem way back 1995 when I was in first year high school for our school paper. As a freshman, I was really challenged to surmount the achievements of the so-called older ones. This poem is very special to me because it is the product of my desire to do things greater than what older people can do. The poem conveys that small things are not only bright and wonderful, rather, useful too. Its meaning is universal and multi-dimensional.

I had written this poem way back 1995 when I was in first year high school for our school paper. As a freshman, I was really challenged to surmount the achievements of the so-called older ones. This poem is very special to me because it is the product of my desire to do things greater than what older people can do. The poem conveys that small things are not only bright and wonderful, rather, useful too. Its meaning is universal and multi-dimensional.

I made used of a very basic style in writing this poem. I observed rhyme and simplicity in language. To add a little twist, I personified the candle. Basically, the entire poem is a dialogue between the reader and the candle. The setting is in Bethlehem where baby Jesus was born. It was the very first Christmas, though, its not blatantly told. The context clues I had given say so.

Because of its simplicity, the poem was published in our school paper and in our yearbook. The poem too was published in Quill Bookss hardbound edition volume, A Time To Be Free, last 1998 in Harlingen, Texas.

A Candle
by Jocell Siyangbigay Maranan


O little candle in the night!!,
burning in the room very bright!!
Its head bows lowly,
pointing back and forth so slowly

Look outside the brick window!
See the stars shooting below!
See the moon and its lasting brightness!
Feel the night and its chilling coldness!

You are comparably smaller,
to those decorative celestial wonders
How could you make the darkness,
turned out to be the brightest?

Why do you have to sacrifice,
yourself so scarce to suffice?
Are you enough for the night,
to make the room very bright?

 Jocell Maranan's Short Biography: Jocell Siyangbigay Maranan was born on February 9, 1982 in Batangas City. He is the third of the five children of Mr. Juan A. Maranan (deceased), a public school teacher, and Mrs. Cecilia S. Maranan, a registered midwife. His father died at the age of 62 when he was 14 years old. Because of this, his mother struggled in raising him and his siblings solely. At an early age, he showed signs of eagerness to go to school. He spent his kindergarten days in Bauan East Central School, elementary in St. Theresas Academy and high school in Sta. Teresa College.

Candle Burning to Petition the Female Saints

Here they are, our Ladies of Mercy and Divine Benevolence. Petitioning the Saints for Special Favours has been a big subject in the chat rooms lately, so in the spirit of Christmas and the Goddess energies associated with these martyrs and popularized pagan deities, I have compiled a list that tells you how to use candle burning to request favours.

When you ask the Catholic Saints for help, it is common to write your request on a piece of paper and place it on the appropriately coloured candle. If a totem animal, emblem or object is suggested, you can also place that item, or a picture of that item on her altar as well. If you can find a picture of the Saint in a religious store and place it on the altar that is even better.

Saint Agnes

Burn a white or blue candle on a Friday to ask for her help to: keep a husband faithful, find a soulmate, or reveal dishonesty in a relationship (find out the truth about someone). Her animal is the lamb.

Saint Ann (also known as Anne and Ana)

Burn a white candle on a Monday to ask her for a peaceful and happy home. She is the patron Saint of grandmothers, housekeepers, housewives, mothers and women in labour. Petition her for help with the deaf and the blind.

Saint Barbara

Burn a red candle on a Saturday to drive a way evil, to protect your relationship from rivals, to protect yourself from meddling in-laws, to clear your path of obstacles, to help someone be released from prison and for protection from storms. She is also the patron saint of wives whose men are at war. Her emblem is the Tower.

Saint Maria Goretti

Burn a pink candle on a Friday to ask for fidelity in marriage, help with an abusive or battering male partner and a pardon from the death penalty.

Saint Brigid of Kildare

Burn a yellow candle on a Sunday to ask her: to become fertile, for healing, for happiness and health of pets and farmyard animals, to assist with breeding livestock, for inspiration, for literary gifts (especially poetry) and the gift of prophecy. Her symbol is a cow.

Saint Clare of Assisi

Burn a white candle on a Monday for protection against astral attack and for help overcoming addiction to drug and alcohol.

Saint Catherine of Alexandria

Burn a yellow or white candle on a Saturday to petition her for beauty, fertility, a peaceful death, confidence, seductiveness and confidence when public speaking. Her symbol is the wheel.

Saint Dymphna

Burn a blue candle on a Monday for help with nervous disorders, mental afflictions, epilepsy, insanity, obsession and astral attack. Her symbol is a sword pointed downwards.

Saint Cecilia

Burn a green candle on a Wednesday for success in a career in the arts, particularly if you are a musician, poet or singer. Her emblem is an organ.

Saint Francis Xavier Cabrini

Burn a white candle on a Sunday to help with matters of immigration, with moving to another city or state or for matters pertaining to health, education or insurance.

Saint Helen of Jerusalem

Burn a pink or red candle on a Friday to ask for the return of a strayed lover and to overcome sorrow, obsession and unhappiness. Her emblem is a cross.

Saint Joan Of Arc

Burn a grey candle on a Tuesday to petition her for spiritual strength, freedom from prisons of all kinds (emotional and otherwise) and for ways to overcome rivals and energies.

Saint Lucy

Burn a white candle on a Wednesday to ask her to help with insoluble or impossible problems, depression, and protection from the evil eye or astral attack, to help you to find the right lawyer and to conquer temptations or addictions.

Saint Martha

Burn a green and/or a white candle on a Tuesday to ask for aid with financial problems, the necessities of life, to bring a lover closer, to keep a husband or boyfriend faithful, to subdue or conquer romantic rivals or enemies or bring a new love. Her symbol is a dragon.

Saint Philomena

Burn a pink or green candle on a Saturday to help with desperate situations, problems with children, unhappiness in the home, the sick, selling real estate, food for the poor and mental illness. Philomena is a favourite of single mothers. Her symbol is an anchor.

Saint Rita of Cascia

Burn a white candle on a Sunday to assist with an abusive relationship, to relieve loneliness, for deliverance from evil and for spiritual fortitude and strength

Saint Therese of Liseux

Burn a yellow candle on a Wednesday to be loved by all, for popularity, for help with addiction and alcoholism, for protection from black magick and to restore faith. Her emblem is a bouquet of roses.

Sam Steven's metaphysical articles have been published in many high-standing newspapers and she has published several books. You can meet Sam Stevens at http://www.psychicrealm.com where she works as a professional psychic. You can also read more of her articles at http://www.newagenotebook.com where she is the staff writer. Currently she is studying technology's impact on the metaphysics.

Candle Burning to Petition the Male Saints

Last NAN I explained how to petition the female Saints with special requests. This time around I'll provide some instruction on how to ask to be put in the cosmic care of the Male Saints . These are very ancient pagan rituals, which have been popularized by the Christian Church. The basic methodology is to put your request under the appropriately coloured candle on the suggested day of the week along with an image of the Saint (which you can often find on the Internet) and/or a symbol or emblem that represents the Saint.

Saint Anthony of Padua

On a Tuesday burn a brown candle for special requests, a green candle for financial help or an orange candle to find a husband. St. Anthony's is a wonderworker when it comes to finding lost articles, improving the memory and bringing back a strayed lover. His emblem is the lily.

Saint Alphonsu Liguori

On a Thursday, light a purple candle to ask for help with sore, aching muscles, joint pain and arthritis. Anything to do with the bones.

Saint Aloysius

Burn a blue candle on a Wednesday to settle domestic disputes and also banish flu, fevers and contagious diseases.

Saint Bartholomew

On a Tuesday burn a red candle and ask this Saint to reveal the truth to you if you feel like something is being hidden or concealed from you. You can also ask him for protection from violence, violent death and protection and healing while undergoing surgery. His emblem is the butcher knife.

Saint Benedict

Burns a white candle on a Saturday to ask for protection against a variety of evil influences: against poisons, evil temptations, contagious diseases, safety during storms, and assistance during times of healing and death. Saint Benedict also helps heal animals and increase prosperity. His emblem is a raven or a broken cup.

Saint Alex

On a Sunday, burn a pink candle to ask for protection from astral attack, violence and enemies. His emblem is a crucifix.

Saint Blais

On a Wednesday burn a blue candle to increase positive communication and self-expression. He also helps with diseases of the throat. His emblem is a comb or two unlit crossed candles.

Saint Florian

Burn a red or orange candle on a Sunday to protect the home and for help with any kind of emergency that has to do with home such as a flood, fire, bankruptcy, infestation etc. His emblem is a burning house.

Saint Christopher

No Wednesday burn a red candle for protection from accidents, sudden death, and against storms. Christopher protects motorists and travellers so he is the one to pray to for a safe journey.

Saints Cosme and Damian

Burn two green candles on a Wednesday for help with doctors and health, to get a correct diagnosis and for general physical protection. He can also clear obstacles from you path.

Saint Cipriano

On a Saturday burn a Purple candle to protection from womanizers, liars, cheaters, and negative attitudes. He helps homeless people and those who have been convicted from getting a heavy sentence.

Saint Expedite

On a Thursday light a yellow candle to settle disputes, curse your enemy and to reverse a negative situation around. This is who you petition to if you need things to change quickly or suddenly.

Saint Gerard Majella

On a Monday, light a white candle to petition to become pregnant. He also helps the falsely accused be declared innocent. He also assists mediums, prophets, psychics and clairvoyants in seeing the truth.

Saint Francis of Assisi

On a Monday light a brown candle to petition for peace, conflict resolution and to gain spiritual wisdom. He helps to reveal and dismantle evil plots. He is also an environmentalist and is concerned with matters of ecology and conservation.

Saint George

On Tuesday, light a red candle to conquer fears, acquire courage and to overcome jealousy. His emblem is the slaying of a dragon.

Saint Ignatius

On a Saturday light a white candle to protect the house from burglary and evil spirits. His emblem is a book and a plum

Saint James the Greater

Light a red candle on a Tuesday to clear obstacles from your path, conquer or remove enemies and for justice to prevail. His emblem is a cockleshell

Saint John the Baptist

On a Tuesday light a green candle to petition him for good luck, fertility, prosperity and protection from enemies.

Saint John Bosco

On a Sunday, light a yellow candle to petition him for favours to do with children, students and educational matters.

Saint Joseph

Light a yellow candle on a Sunday for help with selling a home, finding job, for protection and a happy marriage. His emblem is a lily or a pitcher with a loaf of bread.

Saint Lawrence

Light a red candle on Wednesday to petition for a peaceful, happy home and family, for financial assistance and spiritual strength.

Saint Jude

Light green, white and red candles on a Sunday to petition for a miracle: for hopeless cases that seem impossible, to help with addictions or to help someone get out of jail.

Saint Lazarus

Light a yellow candle on a Sunday to ask for help with sickness, disease, addictions, and better health and to obtain prosperity.

Saint Martin De Porres

Light a purple and white candle on a Thursday to bring harmony to your household. You can also petition him for better health and increased financial security. His emblem is a broom and a crucifix.

Saint Martin Caballero

On a Tuesday light a red or white candle to ask for protection from evil, to rescue someone from evil influences and/or to draw customers to your business. Petition him for money, luck prosperity.

Saint Patrick

On a Sunday light a white candle for prosperity, luck spiritual wisdom and guidance. His emblem is a shamrock and a saint.

Saint Paul

On a Tuesday light a blue or a red candle for courage, patience, overcome opposition and to settle disturbed conditions in the home.

Saint Peter

Light a red and a white candle to petition him to remove obstacles, business success, strength, courage, forgiveness and good fortune. His emblem is two crossed keys.

Saint Peregrine

On a Sunday light a white candle to petition him for help with cancer.

Saint Pius the Tenth

On a Sunday light a white candle to ask for special favours to be granted by those in authourity (such as a boss or government agency.)

Saint Raymond Nonnatus

Light a red candle to prevent gossip, false accusation and for a happy and peaceful home.

Saint Louis Beltran

Light a white candle for help learning languages and protection from evil, accidents, sickness and enemies. He is the one you invoke when children are possessed by spirits.

Saint Roc

On a Wednesday light a yellow candle to restore health and to be protected from contagious diseases.

His emblem is a dog.

Saint Sebastian

Light a red candle on a Tuesday to petition for justice, to overcome rivals, remove obstacles from your path, success and good fortune. His emblem is arrows.

Saint Thomas Aquinas

Light a white candle on a Monday to improve concentration and memory, for understanding, for mental stamina and to help pass exams.

Sam Steven's metaphysical articles have been published in many high-standing newspapers and she has published several books. You can meet Sam Stevens at http://www.psychicrealm.com where she works as a professional psychic. You can also read more of her articles at http://www.newagenotebook.com where she is the staff writer. Currently she is studying technology's impact on the metaphysics.

Candles and the Bedroom

Learn how to enhance the image of your bedroom, using simple and elegant accents and accessories, such as candles and rugs.

If youre looking for a quick and easy way to enhance the image of your bedroom, candles are the answer. Candles are a great way to add an intimate touch and warmth to your bedroom without the expense of buying new bedroom furniture.

The first decision to make is what color scheme are you going to use throughout your bedroom. We recommend two or three colors at most. Next you need to choose your decorating style for your bedroom. Styles to choose from include, rustic, eclectic, traditional, country or contemporary. But remember it's your bedroom and you know what appeals to you, so keep this in mind if you're not sure of the style.

There are many types of candles available, including pillar, jar, floating, taper and soy candles to name a few. Scented candles are recommended for the bedroom to add a sense of warmth and relaxation. Scented candles are widely available in different colors, shapes and sizes.

Note: Always remember to never leave candles unattended whilst burning.

Olivia Filipetto is publisher of www.bedroomfurniture.com, providing all you need to know about enchancing your bedroom and buying bedroom furniture.

bedroomfurniture@gmail.com