Many religions use votive candles as a way to send prayers to someone else.  By lighting a candle before the prayer is said this can help transfer will and energy from the person praying to the person who needs it. Religious votive candles are usually white or natural beeswax in color and are about two inches tall by three-fourths and inch in radius. Because of this common use in churches, many candle makers started creating colored and scented candles of similar size and these too are called votive in the stores.

When packaging up these candles that are used to send prayers, manufacturers usually use edge protector pieces inside the individual boxes to protect the candles.  These can come with or without a glass container, depending on the situation.  The outer box will usually have cardboard edge protectors also to stabilize and shipment and help protect the contents.  In some cases, hand makers of votive candles may wish to use custom packaging solutions instead.

Remember that when you go to pray for someone and light a candle for them that each candle costs something to replace.  Being a good church member means leaving behind a donation to cover the expense of this, which makes a good impression on both your actions. Also note that votive candles come in different forms.  Roman Catholics may use tealight size candles or long tall candles which are places on stands with or without holders. Usually these are part of a side altar in front of a statue of Jesus or Mary. The Eastern Orthodox church uses icons instead of statues.  The Icons can be of Jesus or the Holy Theotokos. You will not find variation of candle use here as the long thin candles are preferred. Note that the containers for these are round and sometimes filled with sand.  Candles for the living and the departed are placed in different areas of the church.

Anglican churches use votive candles to pray for the dead or to plea for saintly intercession. Among Protestants those in the High Church or part of Evangelical Catholicism also use votive candles. Lutheran followers may use these candles both at the church and in home based altars found with a cross behind them. The United Methodist church uses votive candles to pray directly to God once a year on All Saint’s Day when they light a candle for each member of the congregation who passed away the previous year.

Clearly it is vitally important to protect these candles in shipment as they have a holy function.  Use of edge protector, cardboard edge protectors, and even custom packaging solutions can help ensure that these valuable candles go from the maker to the church safely and arrive undamaged. While many of these candle types are now sold for other functions, we should remember that white unscented votive candles can be used to send prayers for another person who needs it. If your congregation uses candles make sure to leave a donation for each one you light.