# Unity candle

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Unity_candle
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Unity_candle.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unity_candle
> Source revision: 1355699545
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Marital tradition

Couple lighting a unity candle

A **unity candle** is a candle used in a wedding ceremony to symbolize two people joining in marriage.

## History

The lighting of a "unity candle" is a relatively new custom in wedding ceremonies. There is no record of it in the bible or any [apostolic](/source/Apostles_in_the_New_Testament) writings. The custom first became popular in the second half of the 20th century in [American Protestant](/source/American_Protestant) weddings.[1] The origins are unclear; however, the use of a unity candle in a 1981 episode of [*General Hospital*](/source/General_Hospital) may have helped to popularize the practice.[2][3]

Typically, both of the mothers of the bride and groom each light a taper candles to represent the two families. There are other instances where the bride and groom light their respective families' wedding candle before lighting a center candle. In both traditions, the lighting of these candles symbolizes the two individuals coming from separate families and becoming one in marriage.[3]

When the practice is intended to symbolize simply the joining of the bride and groom, the tapers may be blown out to indicate that the two lives have been permanently merged, or they may remain lit beside the central candle, symbolizing that the now-married partners have not lost their individuality. [4]

## Inclusion in church weddings

While the use of unity candles within the marriage rite has become widespread, it is a recent tradition and not explicitly part of the churches' [apostolic tradition](/source/Sacred_tradition); therefore, the practice is prohibited in some churches. It is advisable that couples and their [wedding planner](/source/Wedding_planner) should always check with the pastor before including the ceremony in their order of service.

### Catholic weddings

The Unity Candle Ceremony is not part of the Catholic wedding liturgy. Instead, sees the regular reception of the [Holy Eucharist](/source/Holy_Eucharist) is emphasised as the heart of Christian Unity. The recently updated [Catholic](/source/Catholic) Rite of Marriage[5] does not include any provisions for the Unity Candle Ceremony. For this reason, many parishes do not allow its inclusion in the ceremony. While the [United States Conference of Catholic Bishops](/source/United_States_Conference_of_Catholic_Bishops) has not explicitly prohibited the use of the unity candle in the marriage rite, it does not encourage the practice. The Conference has noted that the policies of most dioceses do not prohibit this custom, but many suggest it be done at the reception since the [Rite of Marriage](/source/Catholic_marriage) already has abundant symbols of unity. The analysis of unity candles concludes by indicating that if such a ritual is permitted, the couple should light their individual candles from a [paschal candle](/source/Paschal_candle), the individual candles should not be extinguished, and the unity candle should not be placed on the altar.[6] By following this direction, the lighted candles can then be seen as a way of emphasizing the couple's union in the [sacramental](/source/Sacramental) and [vocational](/source/Vocational) nature of their marriage.

### Anglican church weddings

The Candle Ceremony is not part of the [Anglican](/source/Anglican) wedding ceremonies, although it may be allowed at the discretion of the pastor.

#### Mixed Marriages and the Unity of Baptism

In the [Sacred Tradition](/source/Sacred_Tradition) of the Catholic Church, a marriage is sacramental in nature when the couple are both baptized Christians. This fact can help to give a more Christian interpretation of the Unity Candle, especially in a mixed marriage between a Catholic and a Christian of another Tradition. It is desirable at a Catholic Wedding for Holy Communion to be distributed. However, given that Holy Communion is not encouraged at a mixed Wedding, where one of the spouses together with a large part of the congregation is not Catholic, the use of a Unity Candle might be employed as a sign of the baptismal unity of the couple. Since in the rite of baptism, the lighted [Paschal Candle](/source/Paschal_Candle) and a smaller candle plays an important symbolic part. In the baptism rite,[7] the Paschal Candle is placed near the font. After the person has been [baptized](/source/Baptized) with water, another smaller candle is lit by a Godparent from the flame of the Paschal Candle and given to the newly baptized as a sign that they have received the "light of Christ". They are instructed to keep the "flame" they have received to "keep burning brightly" until the return of the Lord ([Parousia](/source/Parousia)). This call to vigilance is a reference to the discipleship nature of baptized Christians who are called to [evangelize](/source/Evangelize) through their [vocational](/source/Vocational) calling. The fact that each of the couple shares the same light signifies the unitive nature of their Christian vocation. St. Paul expresses the evangelizing nature of Christian marriage in his letter to the Ephesians 5:22-33. He says "Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord"[8] and "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her"[9]

A personalized Unity Candle set

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["What is the history/Origin of the dreaded unity candle? | San Diego Reader"](https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2001/aug/30/what-historyorigin-dreaded-unity-candle/).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["What's with the unity candle in a Catholic wedding?"](http://catholicphilly.com/2012/09/catholic-spirituality/whats-with-the-unity-candle-in-a-catholic-wedding/).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_3-1) ["History of the Unity Candle - Saguaro Buttes"](https://www.tucsonweddingsite.com/history-of-the-unity-candle/). 2008-10-17. Retrieved 2026-04-10.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Nina Callaway. ["Unity Candles and Other Unity Traditions"](https://web.archive.org/web/20071226041906/http://weddings.about.com/cs/style/a/unityceremony.htm). *[About.com](/source/About.com)*. Archived from [the original](http://weddings.about.com/cs/style/a/unityceremony.htm) on 2007-12-26. Retrieved 2007-12-12.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Wedding Ceremony | USCCB"](http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriage-and-family/marriage/wedding-ceremony/index.cfm).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Principles of Ministry to Couples Preparing for Marriage | USCCB"](http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriage-and-family/marriage/marriage-preparation/mpanalysis.cfm).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Baptism and Christian Initiation | USCCB"](http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/sacraments-and-sacramentals/baptism/index.cfm).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Eph 5:22

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Eph 5:25

v t e Weddings Collective Elopement Handfasting Same-sex White Pre-wedding Marriage proposal planner Marriage proposal Engagement Banns of marriage Wedding planner Wedding registry Bridal shower Engagement party Wedding invitation Bachelor party Bachelorette party Stag and doe party Marriage license Prenuptial agreement Rehearsal dinner Locations Wedding chapel Gretna Green Las Vegas Clothing Western dress codes Formal White tie Morning dress Semi-formal Black tie Black lounge suit Informal Suit Wedding dress Contemporary Bridal crown Dress Evening gown Ball gown Cocktail dress Garters Casual Objects Chuppah Las arras Lèbes gamikòs Wedding cord Wedding favors Wedding mandapa Wedding ring Wedding ring cushion Wishing well Participants Bride child bride Bridegroom child bridegroom Bridesmaid Bridesman Flower girl Groomsman Page boy Officiant Traditions Ahesta Bero Bedding ceremony Bridal Chorus First dance "Indian" Wedding Blessing Jumping the broom Lychgate Money dance Music Polterabend Pounded rice ritual Pyebaek Trash the dress Unity candle Walima Wedding March Wedding photography Wedding reception Wedding videography Food and drink Wedding breakfast Wedding cake Wedding cake topper Cookie table Groom's cake Hochzeitssuppe Jordan almonds Kolach (bread) Korovai Loving cup Place card By religion or culture Anand Karaj (Sikh) Arab Assyrian Ayie Ayyavazhi Bengali Hindu Bengali Muslim Brunei Malay Chinese Pre-wedding customs Catholic Hajong Hindu Islamic Iyer Jewish Mandaean Mormon Odia Persian Poruwa ceremony Punjabi Quaker Saint Thomas Christian Shinto Timorese Vőfély (Hungary) Zoroastrian By country Ethiopia Vőfély (Hungary) Iceland India Myanmar (Burma) Pakistan Philippines Russia Sri Lanka Ukraine United Arab Emirates United States United Kingdom England and Wales Scotland history Vietnam Honeymoon Honeymoon registry Consummation Other Black wedding Elopement Maiden and married names Marriage vows Newlywed Royal weddings Self-uniting marriage Sequel wedding Shotgun wedding Knobstick wedding Wedding anniversary Wedding crashing Wedding vow renewal ceremony Womanless wedding

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Unity candle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unity_candle) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unity_candle?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.