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Candle-Dipping during Winter Break
February 21-25, 2011
10 PM – 1 PM
Tired of dark days and looking for something fun to do with
your children or grandchildren during February vacation?
From Monday, February 21st through Friday, February 25th
from 10a.m. to 1 p.m., join us at the Windsor Historical
Society’s Hands-On-History Learning Center and make your
very own hand-dipped paraffin candle to take home.
Different colors for dipping make each candle unique. The
Hands-On-History Learning Center, where children can try on
reproduction colonial clothing, try out a child-sized rope
bed, or “milk” Flavia the cow can be enjoyed at the same
time. Cost for this program is $10 per family, or $5 per
adult, $4 for seniors, $3 for children and $2 for members.
A parent or guardian must accompany their children.
Candles are largely decorative today but have been used as a
light source for thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians
and Romans used candles. In the middle ages, tallow, or fat
from cows and sheep was saved and used for candles which
were smoky and smelly. Chandlers or candle –makers would go
from household to household, trading for tallow to make
their candles. Beeswax was also used in the middle ages to
make a candle which burned brightly and with a sweet scent,
but it was rare and expensive. In the late 18th
century, clear-burning whale oil candles began to replace
the old-fashioned and smoky tallow candles and in the
1850’s, paraffin, a byproduct of petroleum, became the
candle-making material of choice. But very soon, the
kerosene lamp and the light bulb (invented in 1879) would
begin to put candles out of business. By making a candle
the old fashioned way, you’ll be participating in a
time-honored tradition. |