Paschal Candlesticks

The Paschal candle is used in churches to celebrate Easter and for the Sacramental liturgies of Baptism where it symbolizes the believers death & resurrection in Christ and Funerals, where it symbolizes the resurrection of the dead.

Typically, the candle is lit with the new fire at the Saturday evening Easter Vigil. It is custom for churches to start each Easter season with a new paschal candle, but some smaller parishes utilize a candle with changeable dates.

The Paschal candle by custom has 5 incense grains which are embedded in the candle. The grains represent the 5 wounds of Christ.

The Paschal candle holder is typically made of brass, bronze or wood.

We suggest your church consider several things when deciding on a new candle holder for your Paschal candle.

• Material. Usually, you will want to select a paschal candle stand that matches the materials used on your other church candle stands and appointments. If your other apointments are made of brass, you should select a paschal candle holder made from brass and stay away from bronze, which has a redder hue than does brass.
• Size. Select a stand that is appropriately sized for both your church's sanctuary and the size of the candle to be used. Larger churches that will have a number of baptisms and funerals may want to opt for a larger candle to avoid situations where the candle is so burnt down by the time Christmas rolls around that it becomes a race to Easter to see if the candle will still be useable. If your sanctuary is large, asthetics probably dictate a paschal holder that is on the larger side of the available stands.
• Height. In addition to the size of the stand (the "bulk" if you will) you should also consider the height of the paschal holder. Consider the height of the paschal candle to be used and whether or not it will be easy to light for smaller acolytes.Many churches now use candles that are 48 to 60" tall. When these taller candles are placed in a traditional 44" tall paschal stand, the height of the wick can be 8ft or more above the ground! If your church uses a tall paschal candle, we suggest you consider a special "short" paschal candlestick. These 28" to 30" tall candle holders make it easier to light the paschal candle as well as making it easier to remove the candle for procession.
• Design. After considering the above points, thge final thing to look for is a paschal candle holder styled to match or complement your church's interior. We would not put an ornate, heavily detailed holder in a contemporary sanctuary or vice versa. Look at the other appointments in your sanctuary and select a holder that goes along with the style of the other appointments. If you wish, you can even send us a picture of your church's appointments and sanctuary and we will be happy to email you a list of holders that would go well with your interior and match your other appointments.
• Finish. Finally, consider if you want a polished or satin finish on your candlestick. Polished is more traditional and looks richer for use is traiditional, gothic or ornate sanctuaries. Satin is generally used in more modern sanctuaries, but many churches elect to simply match the finish on the paschal candle stand to the reast of their appointments.