Why is Red the Color of Love?
That's candle magic. Candle magic can happen any place, any day, any time. Spanning religions, cultures, and societies – candle magic is an ancient ritual practiced by witches, brujas, and probably your grandmother. At its core, this ritual honors our human connection with the natural element of fire. Lighting, burning, and reading beeswax candles can connect you with all kinds of magic: your own intuition, ancestors and spirit guides, spells, and manifesting dreams or desires, to name a few.
For example, the weekly practice of gratitude, Shabbat, invites the practice of lighting candles, which bring peace and festivity into the space. A religious and cultural ceremony on what is considered a holy day in Judaism, Shabbat (also known as Sabbath or Shabbos) begins at sunset on Friday and ends on Saturday evening.
Aarti, the Hindu worship ritual also known as a "ceremony of lights," calls for the daily lighting of an oil lamp. The burning flame, wick, and oil each represent significant elements of the ceremony. The ritual itself – which can happen at home or in a temple – affirms gratitude, love, sacrificing for the good of others, and knowledge or inner wisdom as a form of abundance and wealth that cannot be diminished regardless of material success. Though the exact practice varies, the warm glow of a flame or light remains at the heart.
BUSY BEE TIP
We invite you to see candles as an opportunity to pause and reflect. Just as candles can be part of big holidays or societal customs, they can also be a quiet way of honoring and caring for yourself. Light a candle today – set an intention and offer yourself a positive affirmation.
BEE SUSTAINABLE
Learn about the native plants in your region and take that research one step further – whether it is finding out who collects seeds, supporting farmers and beekeepers who help to care for local wildlife, or becoming a land steward yourself! Valuing the lives of our plant family members is vital to protecting the future of our interdependent, interconnected ecosystem.
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Presenting Greentree Home Candle's annual gift guide, an array of warm and colorful handmade wonders. Just the uplift we all need at the end of a long year.
Near and dear to our hearts at Greentree Home, each gift in our 2022 gift guide is filled with warmth and inspired by a connection to nature; every artisan and maker is someone we know personally.
We guarantee these special gifts will bring a smile to the faces of your loved ones, and hopefully to your face too. Don't take our word for it! Order and see for yourself.
If matches are a candle's best friend, then this elegant, ceramic match strike with tray is the party you go to with that best friend – or perhaps, the cozy dinner you share together at home.
The staple item you didn't know you needed, this match strike will positively alter your experience cooking with your stove top (are we cooking with gas?) or lighting up the wood stove (still heating with firewood?). Or, perhaps this is a gift for someone who is more sentimental than practical, in which case, we recommend having at least one in the bedroom, and another on the dining room table. Ready to set the mood anytime.
Crafted by a dear friend of Greentree Home Candle, Julia Finlayson, these solid pieces are hand thrown and glazed (your choice! either black or gray) in her Chicago studio, Grandmont Street.
Who says bees are for spring or summer? We see bees in the winter too – outside at our Greentree hives in the Catskills, and inside our home through the many symbols and decorations we keep to remind us of the gifts that come from hard work. If you don't have one yet, it's time to bring a bee home!
Hang the bee ornament on your holiday tree for seasonal enjoyment – perch them in a window or above your table to add some dazzle to your home year-round.
Support our friends Jim and Sandi, American artists who make meaningful gifts for life's milestones and craft classic home goods for everyday celebrations in their Rhode Island studio, Beehive Handmade.
Introducing…the Greentree event tapers in a limited edition color, ideal for celebrations big and small! Each bundle includes 10 tapers – just the right number of candles to cluster together on top of a celebration cake, or to light up your home as the nights get longer and days shorter.
These tapers give off a soft glow that will brighten and warm any holiday gathering. Narrow enough to fit into smaller holders, such as a kinara for Kwanzaa or menorah for Hanukkah, we currently have 20 bundles of event tapers available in Sage, a special edition color for the season.
What better way to celebrate bees than with Catskill honey? And what better honey to eat than the most local, natural and raw?
This gift is perfect for anyone in your life who likes sweet things, and for those who take great care in their health. Raw honey in particular will give your immune system the support it needs to keep you safe and healthy through winter!
One of the tastiest treats created by our bee friends here in the Catskill Mountains, we love the flavors of both the spring and fall varieties. Bottled with care by local beekeepers Rachelle and Brian at Rogers Ranch.
