Worldwide Candle Lighting Day 2023: December’s second Sunday is designated as Worldwide Candle Lighting Day. Global Candle Lighting Day is not associated with customary religious or cultural Christmas celebrations, even though it falls during the busiest holiday season.
Worldwide Candle Lighting Day is an online 24-hour global candle lighting ceremony that represents how families who are grieving the loss of a child can support one another with compassion. The day brings people together to remember the children who have passed away, and it is thought to be the largest candle-lighting ceremony in the world.
The History of Candle Lighting Worldwide
The grief experienced by a parent when their child passes away before their time can be unlike anything else.
A child’s death leaves wounds, empty spaces, and unbearable grief. There is no magic bullet. Grief is a tough road to travel, regardless of the child’s age or whether the death was expected. Loneliness and isolation are common experiences on this journey.
In May 1968, Reverend Simon Stephens saw a rare opportunity to unite two bereaved families whose sons both died at the same hospital. Two families—Bill and Joan Henderson, whose son Billy died from cancer, and Joe and Iris Lawley, whose son Kenneth died in a car accident—hoped that by sharing their stories and grieving with each other, they could find comfort and consolation.
They wanted to share the comfort and support they received from sharing their common grief of losing a son with other parents grieving the loss of a child. They gathered with other grieving parents in January 1969 after Reverend Stephens comforted them at the hospital.
Compassionate Friends of the United States established Worldwide Candle Lighting Day in 1997. Originally an online event, the ceremony has expanded to thousands of official and informal events worldwide.
Hundreds of churches, funeral homes, hospitals, hospices, schools, cemeteries, and memorial gardens participate in the annual Worldwide Candle Lighting Day celebration. The Compassionate Friends added a virtual Worldwide Candle Lighting Memorial Wall in 2019 where family members could post memorial messages.
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Family Time On World Candle Lighting Day
Inform them of The Caring Friends.
Find the closest chapter of The Compassionate Friends by making the effort today. Give the family a personal, handwritten note expressing your condolences for their loss along with the chapter’s contact details. A handwritten note is more appropriate and intimate for someone who has recently lost a child.
Encourage observance of International Candle Lighting Day.
Families, friends, neighbors, and individuals now primarily communicate about events and support needs in the community through social media. The best time to start posting on your social media pages for Worldwide Candle Lighting Day is one month prior to the second Sunday in December. Add a hyperlink to the event’s webpage. Inform others if you plan to attend the event.
Take part in the Global Candle Lighting Day event.
Make a note on your calendar to dedicate a specific time to honor and remember the children, grandchildren, or siblings that you or others have lost recently. At 7:00 p.m. local time, you can light a candle by yourself or participate in a nearby ceremony with others.
If you are unable to find a local gathering, get in touch with the closest chapter of The Compassionate Friends to find out how to organize one in your area. You’ll be giving people in your neighborhood a keepsake present.
Five Ways to Comfort Grieving Hearts with Candle Light
Lighting candles is a way to show one’s faith.
Most organized religions and spiritual practices honor the deceased with candle lighting ceremonies. Light a candle in memory of our loved ones to remind us there is life after death.
The glow of candles calms the spirit.
Just lighting a candle can bring about a moment of silence as we shut out the outside noise and concentrate on the gentle glow of the flame. In stressful times, turning off the outside world allows inner peace to come in.
Candles reach heaven to hear our prayers.
It’s a common belief that the smoke from a burning candle ascends to the heart of God, carrying our prayers with it.
Candlelight fosters tranquility.
A single, flickering candlelight creates a serene, peaceful atmosphere that eases anxiety and instills quiet hope in any space.
During meditation, lighting a candle symbolizes intention.
In many meditative traditions, candles are the center of attention and visualization. Candles are often lit in memory of children to allow them to focus on the beauty of the child’s spirit.
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The significance of this Day
fills a gap in the needs
The only parent who can understand and relate to the anguish of another parent’s loss is one who has lost a child. There is no replacement for the consolation and support provided by bereaved parents, grandparents, and siblings.
initiates a discussion on life and death
One aspect of the life cycle that many adults find uncomfortable is death. There is rarely an open conversation about end-of-life issues when someone we know loses a young family member. Candle Lighting Day sparks conversation and makes it easier to support those going through this difficult time.
gives the bereaved a sense of community
By uniting individuals who are grieving alone with others who are traveling a similar path, Worldwide Candle Lighting Day illuminates the path for healing. A wounded heart finds solace and tranquility in the knowledge that another person shares their experience of heartache.
WORLDWIDE CANDLE LIGHTING DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | December 12 | Sunday |
| 2022 | December 11 | Sunday |
| 2023 | December 10 | Sunday |
| 2024 | December 8 | Sunday |
| 2025 | December 14 | Sunday |
