Susan's Scribblings the Blog

I normally burn a bayberry candle on New Year’s Eve. It’s an ancient custom to bring good luck and riches for the coming year. I burned its mate on Christmas Eve with no problem, so on the appointed day I thrust the candle into the holder and lit a match; unfortunately I forgot to trim the wick first, and the pair had been joined there by about five inches of the stuff (probably hung and dipped that way, t00). Oh well, I thought; I’ll just stand by and watch in case something goes wrong.

The wick burned down to the taper and began its slow journey of melting down to the socket, but then the flame caught onto the trailing tail of wick situated next to the candle as it deformed under the fire’s might. In two minutes I had a three inch wall of wax with two fires burning at once on its side. One thing for sure, that candle was melting at a fine pace.

It took less than a half hour to end up with a puddle of greenish wax. Normally such a taper would burn for about six hours or so. But it did go down to the socket. I officially declared the candle properly burned out, and determined that 2016 would wind up with double the burning issues, and flame out before we even know what happened.