The act of lighting a unity candle is packed with symbolism, a tradition that joins the families of both the bride and groom in an act meant to show the union of matrimony. The bride and groom's mothers will both light a candle, and occasionally the grandparents will join in, lighting their own candles. Each set of parents will pass their flame on until it reaches the bride and groom. Then the bride and groom will take their own candles and light the unity candle. They may choose to blow out their candles to symbolize the union of a new individual, or leave them lit to symbolize that they retain their personalities even in marriage. The ceremony usually takes place after the vows are read.
As for where the ceremony came from, the origins of the unity candle are still a little hard to peg down. Sometime in the last 50 years or so in America it began to spread, igniting a trend that was quickly adopted by many Christian marriages.
The Calla Lily Unity Candle Set pictured above is from www.weddingmountain.com
A modern twist on the unity ceremony is the ever popular Unity Sand Ceremony. Couples take turns pouring colored sand into a central vase, which represents the union not only of them but their friends and families as well.
The separate sands once poured into the unity vase can never be put back into their separate vases. They are forever entwined just as the lives and loves of the bride and groom.
After the United Sand Ceremony, the couple has a keepsake to remember their wedding day.
Visit www.unitedsandceremony.net for ideas or products.
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