Catholic Activity: Baptismal Candles

This is a project to help participation at the Easter Vigil, by making and decorating candles symbolizing our own baptismal candles.

DIRECTIONS

To bring the third symbol of the Vigil Night into our homes, we must bear in mind that Easter is the great baptismal day of holy Church. Children love to have their baptismal candles lighted from the Lumen Christi and set around it in a little ceremony at the Easter dinner. When older children have made and decorated their own baptismal candles, the service takes on new significance. As they learn to put wax on the wick of a candle, they learn about "putting on Christ."

Put about six inches of water in a cooking utensil. The bottom of a double boiler is convenient to use. Let the water come to a boil. Place a large piece of wax or paraffin on top of the water. When the paraffin melts it will form a thick layer on the water. Take a piece of cord or candle wicking and fasten one end to a pencil or a little stick, leaving about six inches of the cord free. Holding it by the stick, dip the cord in the paraffin and water. The first few times, until it is heavy, the wicking will be apt to lie on top of the paraffin; straighten it out with the fingers and dip again. Be sure to leave a minute or two between dippings so that the paraffin already on the wick will harden before it is put back in. Dip quickly and each dipping will make the candle thicker. Continue this until the candle is as large as desired; then it can be rolled a little on a cool surface to make it even.

The candle should be allowed to dry before it is decorated with a Chi-Rho. It may be put in a regular candlestick. Or the child can put it into a piece of moist clay or make a candlestick for it. Both the candle-dipping and the use of the candle must be under very careful supervision.

Activity Source: Family Customs: Easter to Pentecost by Helen McLoughlin, The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota, 1956