Candle of Saint Bartholomew
Renewal, new beginnings, and courage to change skin, the apostle candle of August 24
Candle of Saint Bartholomew
7-day candle · stays lit for 7 days7 dias
The Saint Bartholomew candle is the candle for those who are changing phases. Separation, moving to a new city, a new job, an addiction left behind. It is lit in August, when the Church remembers the apostle and many terreiros greet Oxumaré (Oshumare), and at any time when life calls for shedding an old skin. Here it is yellow and green, but there are houses that light it white or in the colors of the rainbow.
Bartholomew was one of the twelve apostles, and tradition identifies him with Nathanael, the man of Cana whom Jesus saw under a fig tree and called a true Israelite, without falsehood. After the Resurrection, he preached far away, and tradition tells that he was flayed alive in Armenia. The skin lost in the martyrdom reminded, in Brazil, the snake that sheds its skin to renew itself, and thus the saint was brought close to Oxumaré.
At home, this candle does not erase the past nor change anyone by force. It accompanies your decision to change and asks for courage to cross the middle of the path, which is the most difficult part of any new beginning. It combines with cleaning, with donated clothes, and with frank conversation.
What is it for
What is the Saint Bartholomew Candle for
The Saint Bartholomew candle is yellow on top and green on the bottom, the colors that syncretism inherited from Oxumaré. It is lit by those who want to start over, by those who need sincerity in a relationship, and by those who ask for prosperity that does not stop turning.
-
Starting over after a difficult phase
For those who have left a relationship, a job, or an addiction. Light it on the first day of the new phase and ask for strength not to return to what caused harm.
-
Sincerity in a relationship
Jesus called Nathanael a man without falsehood. The candle is for couples, partners, or friends who need to talk with truth, without games and without hidden intentions.
-
Prosperity that renews
Through the syncretism with Oxumaré, who makes wealth circulate, the candle is lit by those who have money that comes in and disappears. The prayer request is for consistency and good administration.
-
Protection for those who work with their hands
In Europe, Bartholomew is the patron saint of tanners, shoemakers, tailors, and bakers. Light it for those who live by manual labor and need health in their hands.
-
Honoring the apostle on August 24
On his day, churches remember the apostle and many terreiros concentrate the festivities of Oxumaré. The candle thanks for the good changes that arrived in the year.
To whom it is dedicated
Devotion to Saint Bartholomew
-
Saint Bartholomew
The apostle Nathanael, a man without falsehood
One of the twelve, seen by Jesus under the fig tree and martyred, according to tradition, by flaying. He is represented with the knife of martyrdom and the book of the Gospel. From him, one asks for truth and courage to change.
-
Oxumaré
Serpent and rainbow, close to the orixá (orisha)
The skin lost in martyrdom reminded of the snake that sheds its skin, and August 24 became the festival of the orixá, hence the yellow and the green. The syncretism is historical, and many houses today separate the two and greet Oxumaré on Tuesday.
Know Oxumaré
Also lit by
- Oxumaré Line
- Devout leather workers and shoemakers
Prayer to light
Candle prayer of Saint Bartholomew for those who will start over
“Saint Bartholomew, man of heart without falsehood, whom Jesus found sitting under the fig tree and called to follow him, come to meet me also where I am standing. I light this yellow and green light at the beginning of a new phase and I confess that I am afraid. Afraid of not being able to handle it, afraid of turning back, afraid of what others will say. You who lost everything and did not lose faith, help me let go of what became old without hurting anyone. May my words be true, my steps be firm and my sustenance not fail while life settles. Long live Saint Bartholomew!”Light the candle and pray
Step by step
How to consecrate the Candle of Saint Bartholomew
- 1
Do a small cleaning before
Clean the room and set aside a piece of clothing or an object you no longer use to donate. It is the simple gesture of shedding skin that accompanies the prayer request of this candle.
- 2
Arrange the candle, the water, and the flower
Candle on the saucer, a glass of water beside it, and the yellow flower in front. The water recalls the rain and the rainbow, which in syncretism belong to Oxumaré.
- 3
Say what you are leaving behind
With the candle unlit in your hands, say in a low voice what is ending and what you want to begin. Be sincere, for that is the virtue of the one you pray to.
- 4
Light and say the prayer
Light it with a match and say the prayer on this page. Anyone who wishes can read the passage from the Gospel of John in which Jesus calls Nathanael, in the first chapter.
- 5
Donate the object and let the candle burn out
Do not blow out the flame. When the candle finishes, take the clothing or the object for donation, pour the water onto the soil of a pot, and throw the leftover wax in the common trash.
Precautions before lighting
- A 7-day candle stays lit for many days: leave it on a firm dish or glass, away from curtains, children, and animals, and never without anyone at home.
- If you are from a terreiro and want to consecrate Oxumaré, the one who guides color, day, and offering is the head of your house (zelador). Saints and orixás have their own foundations.
- A new beginning involving addiction or mental health requires professional help. The candle accompanies, it does not replace the doctor, the psychologist, or the support group.
- Do not light the candle to change the will of another person. Devotion to Saint Bartholomew asks for truth, and the change it accompanies is your own.
Ceromancy
What the flame of the Candle of Saint Bartholomew shows
Traditional terreiro reading. Before interpreting, check if there is no wind, crooked wick, or poor quality candle.
- Good sign
High flame that waves slowly
Many devotees read this as a change in progress. Life is moving at the right pace, and the message is not to give up halfway.
- Attention
Flame that crackles and releases sparks
Some houses read this as resistance to the new, inside or outside of you. Talk with those involved and light another candle in a few days.
- Observe
Wax that flows in a spiral
Some see the snake of Oxumaré in the drawing. In practice, it could be wind or a crooked candle. Read calmly and do not jump to conclusions.
- Attention
Wick that sinks into the wax
Traditionally read as a request that is still stuck in the past. Carefully remove the excess wax, relight, and pray with more clarity.
- Good sign
Candle that ends without leaving any residue
A clean cup is usually read as a phase completely closed. Thank the saint and begin the new stage without looking back too much.
Ritual bath and smoke cleansing (defumação)
Herbs that combine with the Candle of Saint Bartholomew
-
Folha-de-Cobra
Dracontium asperum
Leaf linked to the snake and renewal in houses that worship Oxumaré. A branch next to the glass of water accompanies the apostle's candle.
See the herb -
Abre-Caminho / Lacre
Justicia gendarussa
Path-opening herbal bath on the day of lighting helps those starting a job, house, or new relationship, along with the request you make in prayer.
See the herb -
Sunflower
Helianthus annuus
The yellow flower that follows the sun combines with a new beginning. Leave a sunflower in a vase next to the candle until it finishes.
See the herb
Virtual Candle
Light the Saint Bartholomew candle now
Choose the type, write your request, and pay by PIX. The flame stays on the altar and you follow along through the link.
Place on the altarFrequently asked questions
Questions about the Saint Bartholomew candle
What is the Saint Bartholomew candle for?
It serves to request a new beginning after a difficult phase, sincerity in relationships, and a prosperity that renews itself. It is a candle of change and truth, lit by Catholics and by many people from terreiro who celebrate August 24.
What is the day of Saint Bartholomew and the best day to light it?
His day is August 24. During the week, there is no fixed Catholic day. Those who follow the connection with Oxumaré prefer Tuesday, which is the day of the orixá. For a new beginning, it is worth lighting it on the first day of the new phase.
Are Saint Bartholomew and Nathanael the same person?
Church tradition says yes. The gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke speak of Bartholomew always alongside Philip, and the one of John speaks of Nathanael, also led by Philip. Therefore, the two names are read as the same apostle.
Why is Saint Bartholomew linked to Oxumaré?
Because of the image of the skin. Tradition says the apostle was flayed in his martyrdom, and Oxumaré is the serpent that sheds its skin to renew itself. The date of August 24 also weighed in. The syncretism is historical, and many houses today prefer to separate saint and orixá.
What is the color of the Saint Bartholomew candle?
There is no mandatory Catholic color. Yellow and green come from Oxumaré, due to syncretism, and is the one that best matches the request for renewal. Some light white in the church or a seven-colored candle, remembering the rainbow of the orixá.
Can I light the candle of Saint Bartholomew to get back with someone?
That is not its purpose. The candle asks for a new beginning for you and sincerity in conversation, it does not change another person's will. If the return is good for both, it happens through frank conversation, which is exactly what the saint inspires.
