Christmas and Candles

Christmas and candles - a perfect combination. Every Christmas Eve we have a dinner for family and friends - the tradition started when my daughter was little - the air is so full of excitement and anticipation - and candles have always featured as the evening sets in and we begin with a glass of champagne.

Each year the task is to find pure candles that are not scented. (With the profusion of candles on the market over the last few years you’d think this was easy - not so) I can’t stand scented candles near food. The rather strong scents just seem to clash with the food and my sense of smell goes haywire. What I love are pure beeswax candles that burn for a long time, giving a gentle glow to everyone and everything. Having found Queen B candles last year I don’t bother looking all over the place anymore.

Last week I had some time so instead of ordering online (as I usually do for my tea lights) I headed off to see Cate at Queen B candles - she’s not far from me here in Sydney so it’s nice to call in, say Hi, watch hundreds of little tea lights being hand poured and to taste-test the amazing array of Australian honey she has too! Whilst sucking on a spoon of lemon tea tree honey I decided on three, thick natural beeswax pillars of different heights that I can group together in the middle of the table and drape with silver tinsel. For the mantle I bought five gorgeous deep red votive glasses - my colour theme this year is silver and white with a splash of red.

Now I feel as if I’ve truly begun Christmas 2009 - I’ve even started burning the candles because I like them looking used, almost lived-in. All I have to do next is decide on the menus over the festive break, order the food, organise the tree, get out the decorations, buy the presents,… so much to do, so little time but oh so much fun.

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