"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message
...

In article ,
"Mary Fisher" writes:
|
| | I doubt that wax would have been left in empty houses.
|
| Yes, it was. The aristocracy often lived in different houses during
| different times of year, and such durable consumables were not moved
| with the inhabitants. The same would have happened with the people
| (e.g. some shepherds) who had fixed accomodation but lived away from
| it for extended periods.
|
| Shepherds would not have used beeswax candles.

Sigh. Votive candles were beeswax. I was given one as part of my
confirmation, as a symbol, to keep. Roman catholics also burnt candles
in front of images of the BVM, if they could afford them. A shepherd
would clearly not have used beeswax candles for light, but might well
have had one or two, small, votive candles.

Very big sigh


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.