CANDLES
“The custom and praxis of lighting candles is a significant convention in Catholic and Orthodox churches, communities and families, originating from Old Testament times where an oil lamp was lighted to ‘sustain a perpetual flame.’”
-Schoenstatt Scotland
According to the University of Michigan, “the candle symbolizes light in the darkness of life especially individual life, illumination; it is the symbol of holy illumination of the spirit of truth. Lit in times of death, they signify the light in the next world, and they represent Christ as the light.”
This is quite similar to why the devotees of the Black Nazarene of Quiapo light candles, along with their various invocations. It is no wonder then that vendors sell candles at the immediate vicinity of the church. What is curious, however, are the varicolored candles that the vendors offer, some of which are shaped after some unrecognizable saint (QuiapoToday refers to them as “multicolored candles shaped like voodoo dolls”). The colors of the candles are associated with the personal intentions of the person who buys them: e.g., red is for love, green is for money or financial/business success, and blue for peace of mind.
MULTICOLORED candles are sold at Plaza Miranda, just outside the Quiapo Church.
And while the black candle is claimed to stir the conscience of someone who has wronged you, it is also intriguing because of the strange stories associated with it. There is also a sort of “wholesale” candle—all colored candles twisted or tied together for an all-encompassing positivity in your life or if you want to “give thanks to the Nazarene” (Saludes), especially on a Friday.
BLACK “figure” candle. Photo by Sidney Snoeck.
The Queer Candles of Quiapo
Benigno C. Montemayor, Jr. | November 10, 2017
MULTICOLORED candles sold in one bunch for all intentions. Photo by Jiro of Cambridge in Colour.
The Quiapo vendors have their own candle racks where you can stick the purchased candle and say a short prayer (the vendor may also do this on your behalf) since, according to Señor Enrique, lighting a candle is not allowed inside or within the immediate premises of the Church.
Candles in churches are by no means uncommon, but the previously mentioned vaguely shaped candles, some of them black for various (sometimes odd) purposes, are what make Quiapo one of a kind.
CANDLE vendors outside Quiapo Church. Video by Vic Stefanu
WORKS CITED
“Candle.” University of Michigan, umich.edu/~umfandsf/symbolismproject/ symbolism.html/C/candle.html. Accessed 12 Nov. 2017.
Jiro. “A Place Called ‘Quiapo’ Part 2.” Cambridge in Colour, 30 May 2012, www.cambridgeincolour.com/forums/thread19750.htm. Accessed 12 Nov. 2017.
“Quiapo in the Center of Manila.” Quiapo Today, quiapotoday.wordpress.com/history/ quiapo-in-the-center-of-manila/. Accessed 28 Oct. 2017.
Saludes, Mark Z. “The Business of Devotion.” Rappler, 08 Jan. 2015. www.rappler.com/nation/ 80108-business-devotion-black-nazarene. Accessed 28 Oct. 2017.
Señor Enrique. “On Candle Burning.” blogspot.com, 19 Sep. 2008, senorenrique.blogspot.com/2008/09/on-candle-burning.html. Accessed 12 Nov. 2017.
Snoeck, Sidney. “Candle Sellers.” My Sarisari Store, 13 Sep. 2007, my_sarisari_store.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/09/07 candleshumanshape.jpg. Accessed 28 Oct. 2017.
Stefanu, Vic. “Manila: The Candle Sellers Outside Quiapo Church (Philippines).” YouTube.com, 28 Dec. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4IruSoJi8Q. Accessed 12 Nov. 2017.
“Understanding Why We Light A Candle in Church.” Schoenstatt Scotland, 27 Nov. 2015, www.schoenstatt.co.uk/understanding-why-we-light-candles-in-church/. Accessed 12 Nov. 2017.