Moravian candles

Dec 14

Nicasius, 14 December 2025

Bringing light into the darkness is a common ritual during the bleakest nights of wintertime. The Christmas Eve lovefeast in Moravian churches continues on this tradition. The first recorded American candlelit Christmas Eve service among the Moravians took place in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1756. The Bethlehem Diary written on Christmas Eve nearly 270 years ago recalled the sight: children holding candles as high as they could, singing, and full of wonder. Years before electricity, the sight of a group of singing children holding burning candles must’ve been an amazing sight.

*Excerpt from the Bethlehem Diary on December 24, 1756*

Many Moravian congregations today continue the tradition of a candlelit Christmas Eve lovefeast. The beeswax candles are decorated with red paper frills, called a candle skirt. I make my own and find them to be a festive way to add simple decoration to a simple beeswax candle.

Cut out a piece of red tissue paper about 8.5 inches by 3.5 inches. Gently fold (don’t crease) lengthwise and cut into the fold every 1/4 inch. Make sure not to cut all the way down to the paper edge.

*Cutting folded frills on a candle skirt*

Then, I mark where the top of the candle holder lands on the candle. I rub a glue stick around the candle just above and just below that line. I place the gently folded tissue paper on the glue and wrap the paper around the base of the candle, moving it slightly downward as well to bring it down the candle.