Did you know that it is physically impossible to lick your own elbow? Did you also know that after reading that statement everyone gives it a go? The predictability of our actions in certain situations is astounding, such as flicking the light switch so we can see even when we know there is a power cut. The wonders of electricity have only been around domestically for around 100 years in the western world. Before that, lanterns and candles were the only way to illuminate the streets and the inside of homes. For such a relatively recent introduction, the presence of a constant supply of energy has planted itself firmly in everyday life. It is no wonder that we find it hard to return to traditional methods of light when the plug is suddenly pulled. They say it takes as little as two generations to lose knowledge that has been passed down through the ages; consequently it makes me wonder what would happen to the majority of us if the plug were to remain permanently disconnected. I have been known to make a fire that even Ray Mears would be proud of, but not without the aid of a box of matches or a lighter, creating something to illuminate a room on the other hand, would be a much harder task. In the recesses of my brain there is a vague memory of making a beeswax candle. It involved a sheet of beeswax and a wick. Quite how I would source the wax myself or where I would find a suitable wick is not in my SAS survival repertoire unfortunately! The humble candle is more often associated with birthday cakes, church alters and romantic meals. Very rarely do we turn to a candle as an essential source of illumination. Early candles were made of tallow, the fat from an animal, and a wick made of rushes. In later years, oil produced by Sperm whales called spermaceti was utilised as a better quality fuel; unfortunately this was expensive and so production moved on again using rapeseed oil. The real revolutionary turn was the advent of paraffin, which became the fuel of choice thanks to its low price and reputation for being a clean burning fuel. . Since electricity has saturated our lives, candle manufacturers, or chandlers, have aimed their wares at a market that demands aesthetic and atmospheric results from candles. The substances used for the wax are now most often made from plants, such as palm and carnauba. The vast array of colours, shapes and scents reflect the demand for atmospheric candles, and the latest incarnation of the naked flame is no exception. There appears to be some sort of crazy candle revolution happening. Television advertising slots are being stuffed to the brim for a new type of scented candle on the market that claims that the flame goes out when the wax is gone. Quite how this differs from a normal candle is beyond me, but it seems that the general public are so far removed from any knowledge our ancestors had that it appears to be a revolutionary idea! Hopefully, we use this ad campaign to put a spark back in the brain of the populous, and next time the lights go out, with any luck, a light bulb will go on.
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