How many people have asked themselves this question: what is the largest candle in the world? Not many, but undeterred, I’ll move on regardless. It is a mission to be used from one side of the world to the other, meeting all kinds of people, from the eccentric to the slightly deranged.
The search begins, unsurprisingly, in the United States. Everything has to be bigger and better here and that’s the motto of the folks at Warm Glow Candle Outlet. Nestled in the lush surroundings of Centerville, Indiana, this has become locally famous as one of those places to go if you’re looking for something a little off the beaten path to take in your day – that, of course, and candles, naturally. Their products are, they proudly tell the world, larger and larger than life and if you browse their attractive store, you are bound to agree.
They come in all shapes and sizes here, but the star of the show, the main attraction so to speak, has to be what it proclaims as ‘The World’s Largest Candle’. It’s actually part of your outlet store, drawing visitors from literally miles away.
However, there are other contenders for the crown and for the next one we jump into our tardis and head to Stockholm and to the year 1897. The Stockholm Exposition exhibited what has been described as the largest candle on record. It is said that it was an eye that cried twenty-five meters high and measured eight feet in diameter.
However, other sources give the title to the old signature Ajello Candles. In 1921 he created the spectacular Enrico Caruso Commemorative Candle. It was five feet in circumference at the top and tapering to 18 inches higher. Overall it stood at 18 feet and once burned its creators claimed it would continue for 1800 years, burning for one day each year on the anniversary of Enrico Caruso’s death.
In 2005, Jerusalem decided to start building the largest Hannukha candle in the world. It stood eight and a half meters tall and 85 cm wide and came in a variety of colors. It was located in the Pisgah shopping center of the city and wowed visitors. However, we have to disqualify it here on the basis that it was made up of several other sets of candles. Collective efforts cannot be allowed.
These are just a few of the contenders for the largest candle in the world. Others may crop up and maybe we can revisit this wonderful topic at some point in the future, so at least you’ve been warned.