Wedding tradition: lighting the family hearth

The lighting of the family hearth is very symbolic and one of the most beautiful traditions at a wedding. After all, fire is considered a symbol of a happy successful family life. The process of lighting a common family candle has a specific meaning:

Parents bless their children, wish that warmth, comfort, love, prosperity, and harmony reign in the house of a new family;

Now the newlyweds become the keepers of the nascent family, of their hearth;

Tradition helps to unite two families: the bride and groom.

To ignite a family hearth at a wedding, you will not need any special expenses or solving any difficulties. If you decide to hold this truly magical ceremony at your celebration, which usually takes place in the twilight, accompanied by beautiful music and accompanied by touching words, you will be able to evoke a real storm of emotions in yourself, your parents and guests. This exciting moment will remain in your memory as one of the most vivid and emotional memories for many years of your family life.

How to conduct a ceremony

The most common option is when the newlyweds hold one large common beautiful candle, symbolizing their family hearth, and light it from two smaller candles, symbolizing the hearth of the newlyweds' families. In this case, all families are united: the groom's parents, the bride's parents and the newly created family. If you wish, you can organize the ceremony so that only the parents of the groom or only the parents of the bride would light the hearth. With this option, the father of the family can light the candle itself, and the mother will transmit the fire to the new family and their hearth.

After the process of igniting the family hearth, parents, as a rule, say wishes and parting words to the newlyweds. The bride and groom can also prepare words of thanks for the parents. In addition, you can keep the atmosphere moving and show your parents your respect and love by preparing gifts or souvenirs for them.

The ceremony will be more interesting, more beautiful if you involve your guests in it. To do this, they can be asked to stand in a circle around the newlyweds and their parents. After your family hearth is lit, you can share your warmth with all relatives and friends. To do this, walk in a circle, lighting small candles in the hands of each guest.

An important point: at weddings with a very large number of guests, this process can take too long. In this case, it will be better if the guests light their own candles: from the large candle of the bride and groom, as well as passing the fire to each other.

Giving all those present a piece of your fire, you can show that your home is always open to guests, that communication with them is very important for you.

After lighting the hearth, you can continue the celebration in different ways:

Leave the wedding and take your "hearth" home (if the ceremony is the end of the celebration);

Put a candle on your table or on a separate table specially prepared for this rite;

Dance a slow dance, holding your "family hearth" in your hands, surrounded by the light from the guests' lights (guests can hold candles in their hands or put them on the floor, forming a glowing circle or heart).

What needs to be prepared for the tradition?

First of all, it is worth checking with the restaurant in which your celebration will take place whether such a ceremony can be held in the hall, since this process concerns fire safety issues. Don't forget to add this moment to your wedding to-do list. 

In order for you to have beautiful photos and videos of this magical moment, you must definitely warn the photographer about the emerging tradition of the photographer, discuss with him the peculiarities of shooting, lighting, various nuances.

You need to take care of the presence of the candles, matches, lighters or torches themselves and add these items to the list of expenses. To accommodate an already lit "family hearth", it is advisable to prepare a separate table. On candles, newlyweds and parents need to check the wick in advance. Indeed, in order for the fire to ignite quickly and easily, it may be necessary to clean the wick thread from excess wax.

Which candles to choose:

The candle of the newlyweds should be different from the parents' one - be larger, more beautiful, because the attention of those present will be drawn to it. The shape and color can be any, and for decoration you can use patterns, ribbons, bows, engraving. 

It is better to choose long and thin candles for parents, because with the help of too bulky or curly candles, it will be inconvenient for parents to transmit fire to the newlyweds. 

To prevent melting wax from spilling out during the entire ceremony, you can use candlesticks, special coasters, beautiful lace napkins.

After the celebration, you can save the candle, symbolizing your family hearth, as a talisman. You can light it at any important family event, for example, on a wedding anniversary, at the birth of children.

You do not have to strictly adhere to certain conditions of this tradition. You may well show your imagination and modify some of the nuances of the ceremony, depending on your wishes. The main thing is that the tradition of kindling the hearth helps to unite your families, bring a touch of excitement and touching to the wedding celebration.

Courtesy: best wedding planner in Lahore