Eight years ago, the present Mental Health Foundation (MHF) director, Drs. P.D. Lucas, with the support of AMFO, made it possible to bring in a team from overseas to train a few MHF clients in the art of candle-making. The idea was to have a candle shop, which provided job training, therapy, communication skills and a creative outlet, while also bringing in some revenue for materials, other activities and projects.
The Candle Shop is part of MHF’s Faraja Center, which is a day treatment facility offering guidance, support and empowerment to mental illness adult clients and their families. Its objective is to guide and motivate clients with psychiatric illnesses to achieve the self-confidence and skills needed to actively participate in mainstream society regardless of personal challenges. An individualized care plan is developed based on the client’s mental health needs and personal life goals.
The Center’s services include therapy, computer skills, arts and crafts, sports, home economics, life skills, job training, counselling, psycho-education, mentorship, support, transportation and candle making!
Glenroy Benjamin, who is now dubbed the Faraja Candle Shop Foreman, was one of the first to be trained in the art of candle-making. He now trains MHF staff and clients alike and oversees the operations of the shop.
Glenroy: “The shop started with basic shapes and colours. Now eight years later, we have over 18 shapes including Christmas trees, colours such as light green, red, navy blue, corn yellow, basic yellow, orange, dark green, beige and black. We also have scented candles including magnolia, eucalyptus, peach, aqua, vanilla, coco, lavender, wild rose and Christmas scents.”
Mentor who oversees activities in the Faraja Center, Alvin Arrundell helps Glenroy with these tasks. Alvin: “It is important that we support our clients in every way possible. We want to provide them with various positive activities. We also paint and draw, for example, and try to combine these activities with each other. These types of activities build social skills, and allow clients to try something new and express themselves.”
Candles have been used for light and to illuminate man’s celebrations for more than 5,000 years, yet little is known about their origin. It is often written that the Ancient Egyptians, who used torches made by soaking reeds in melted animal fat, developed the first candles. Historians have found evidence that many other early civilizations developed wicked candles using waxes made from available plants and insects. In Japan, candles were made of wax extracted from tree nuts; while in India, candle wax was made by boiling the fruit of the cinnamon tree. It is also known that candles played an important role in early religious ceremonies. Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights dates back to 165 B.C.
Most early Western cultures relied primarily on candles rendered from animal fat. A major improvement came in the Middle Ages, when beeswax candles were introduced in Europe. Unlike animal-based tallow, beeswax burned pure and clean, without producing a smoky flame. It also emitted a pleasant, sweet smell rather than the foul, acrid odour of tallow. Beeswax candles were widely used for church ceremonies, but because they were expensive, few individuals other than the wealthy could afford to burn them in the home.
By the 13th century, candle making had become a craft in England and France. The candle makers (chandlers) went from house to house making candles from the kitchen fats saved for that purpose, or made and sold their own candles from small candle shops.
Paraffin wax, used in many candles today was introduced in the 1850s, but with the introduction of the light bulb in 1879, candle making began to decline. Candles enjoyed renewed popularity during the first half of the 20th century, when the growth of U.S. oil and meatpacking industries brought an increase in the by-products that had become the basic ingredients of candles – paraffin and stearic acid.
The popularity of candles remained steady, when interest in candles as decorative items, mood-setters and gifts began to increase notably. Candles were suddenly available in a broad array of sizes, shapes and colours, and consumer interest in scented candles began to escalate.
Candles have come a long way since their initial use. Although no longer man’s major source of light, they continue to be used frequently. Today, candles symbolize celebration, mark romance, soothe the senses, define ceremony, and accent home decors casting a warm and lovely glow for all to enjoy. It also makes a perfect Christmas gift!
On December 15 and 16, MHF Candle Shop is holding a Christmas sale on Leopard Road #1 in Cay Hill. Candles cost $1 to $10 depending on size. Christmas gift-baskets will also be on sale. A candle sale will also be held at the Chamber of Commerce Street Fair on Saturday, December 19. Proceeds will go toward buying supplies for the candle shop and doing activities with the clients. It is also possible to order personalized candles. Anyone interested in viewing the candle shop and seeing the candle-making process can make an appointment with MHF.
Call MHF at 1 (721) 5421677 for more information.
