Why Do We Light Candles for the Dead?

A single flame is among the oldest ways to remember someone. Many traditions light candles for the dead, each with its own meaning. This article describes some of them. Practices differ by family, so ask a leader in your tradition about its custom.

What is a yahrzeit candle?

A Jewish memorial candle. Wikipedia explains that the Hebrew name, ner neshama, means “soul candle,” and the Yiddish name means “anniversary candle.” It says the candle is lit before sundown. Funeral.com says it is commonly lit to burn for about 24 hours on the anniversary of a death. It is also lit before Yom Kippur and on days when the Yizkor prayer is said. Chabad quotes a medieval rabbi, Asher ben Yechiel (about 1250 to 1327), explaining that the custom of lighting a memorial candle before Yom Kippur is to atone for the souls of the departed.

What about Christian traditions?

Candles are tied to prayer. Funeral.com says that in many Catholic churches, lighting a candle is a visible sign of prayer that continues after you leave. The Hollywood Forever cemetery guide calls a votive candle a kind of “prolonged prayer,” representing a continuing petition for the soul. Funeral.com adds that All Souls’ Day, November 2, is linked with cemetery visits, prayer, and candles in many places, and that in Eastern Orthodox memorial services, candles are often held as a sign of prayer, with each one symbolizing an individual soul. A funeral-industry history says the Paschal, or Easter, candle is used at funerals to remind Christians of the resurrection.

Do other religions use light?

Yes. The Hollywood Forever guide says that in Hinduism a lamp, or diya, is placed near the head of the departed right after death and kept burning, to symbolize the soul’s purity and guide it toward the divine light. It says that during Día de Muertos, families light candles on an altar to guide the spirits of departed loved ones back home. See Día de los Muertos.

Where did the custom start?

Probably very early. The Frazer history says some early peoples believed a flame could ward off ghosts and demons that might harm the dead person’s soul, and that Greeks and Romans used candles or torches to guide the dead on their final journey. Funeral.com’s history traces the story from lamps placed in graves to Christian use of candles and oil lamps in funeral processions. These are general accounts, and the details of early practice are not well documented.

What do they mean for people today?

Funeral.com sums up the common themes as presence, prayer, hope, and remembrance. A candle at home or at a memorial service is a simple way to mark a loss. If you light a real flame, follow basic fire safety. For related traditions, see Christian Calendar Remembrance Traditions, Orthodox Christian Funeral Traditions, and Jewish Funeral and Mourning Traditions.