The Legend Of The Christmas Candle

Many years ago a cobbler and his wife lived in a cottage on the edge of a village in Austria. They had few possessions, but whatever they owned they shared with others. Symbolic of this generosity and love of mankind was the lighted candle they placed in the window of their cottage.

Over a period of years, war, famine and destruction fell upon this little village, yet through it all the cobbler and his wife suffered far less than the other villagers.

"Surely there is something special about them, they are always spared from our misfortunes," said the villagers. "Let us put a candle in our windows and see if that is the mysterious charm."

The first night that a candles was lit in the windows of every home was Christmas Eve. Before the first rays of the morning sun, a messenger rode into the village to bring the great news--PEACE HAD COME! That Christmas Day there was amazement and awe in the hearts of the humble villagers.

As they thanked God for the blessing of Peace, they said to one another: "Let us always remember to light candles on the evening of Christ's birth."

Still today this beautiful custom of placing a lighted candle in the windows on Christmas, has spread all over the world, sending forth a message of love, hope and cheer.