Joia Mística Laroyê
PT

Saint Sebastian Candle

Protection against epidemics, abundance on the table, and the courage of the martyr soldier of the arrows

Saint Sebastian Candle

7-day candle · stays lit for 7 days7 dias

Candle size

The 7-day candle stays lit for 7 days, without stopping.

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The Saint Sebastian candle is ancient in Brazil, just like the city of Rio de Janeiro itself, which was born with his name. It is lit in churches, roça chapels, and terreiros, almost always in January, and whenever a disease begins to spread through the neighborhood. The most common version is red on top and green on the bottom, but there are houses that light the candle all red.

Sebastian was an officer of the Roman guard at the end of the 3rd century and hid his Christian faith. Discovered, he was tied up and shot with arrows, declared dead, and saved by a widow named Irene. He faced the emperor again and was killed with blows. As the arrows reminded people of the plague coming from the sky, he became the protector against epidemics. In the Southeast and in Umbanda, the arrow also brought him closer to Oxóssi (Oshosi), the hunter.

At home, the Saint Sebastian candle is for protection and sustenance. It does not cure anyone alone and is not used to ask for harm against those who persecute you. It accompanies treatment, protects the table, and gives courage to those who need to resist without losing their gentleness. Many families leave the candle lit during the January novena.

What is it for

What is the Saint Sebastian Candle for

The Saint Sebastian candle brings the red of the martyr on top and the green of the forest on the bottom. It is lit to protect the family from spreading diseases, to ask for abundance for the house, and to gain courage when life feels like a siege.

  • Protect the family when disease spreads

    It is the oldest prayer request to the saint. Light it when an outbreak reaches the town or the children's school and ask that the house gets through the season with health.

  • Abundance of food and work

    In the roça, the saint is celebrated with a rich table and an auction of prizes. Light it asking that bread and work do not run out, and share something with those who have less.

  • Courage when you feel surrounded

    Sebastião was denounced and surrounded and did not deny who he was. The candle is for those who face persecution at work or on the street and need to resist without losing peace.

  • Support for those who care for the sick

    Remember Irene, who treated the wounds of the saint. Light it for nurses, caregivers, and children who care for their parents, asking for strength and patience for them.

  • Honoring the patron on January 20

    In Rio and in hundreds of cities, the day has mass, procession, and a festival. Many terreiros greet Oxóssi on the same date. The candle thanks for the protection of the year.

To whom it is dedicated

The devotion to Saint Sebastian

  • Illustration of Saint Sebastian in sacred art

    Saint Sebastian

    The martyr soldier, protector against plagues

    Roman official who survived the arrows and died for not denying the faith. Patron of Rio and many cities, he is invoked against epidemics and hunger. The red of the candle recalls his martyrdom.

  • Illustration of Oxóssi in sacred art

    Oxóssi

    The hunter of the forest, approached by the arrow

    In the Southeast and in Umbanda, the bow and arrow joined the saint to the hunter orixá (orisha), and from there comes the green of the candle. In Bahia the connection is different, and many houses today separate the two and light the Oxóssi candle separately.

    Know Oxóssi

Also lit by

  • Oxóssi line
  • Caboclos of the forest
  • Folias de São Sebastião

Prayer to light

Prayer of the Saint Sebastian candle for the health of the house

“Saint Sebastian, soldier of God, you who were tied to the tree and even so did not deny your faith, come to stand as a sentinel at my door. I light this red and green light and place each person of this house before it. May the disease that spreads from mouth to mouth pass far from here. May there be no lack of food on the table nor work in the hands. Bless those who care for the sick, as Irene cared for you, and give courage to those who are afraid. If someone persecutes me, I do not ask for revenge, I ask for firmeza to move forward with my head held high. Long live Saint Sebastian!”
Light the candle and pray

Step by step

How to set the Saint Sebastian Candle

  1. 1

    Clean the place and open the window

    Before everything, air out the room and wipe the shelf with a damp cloth. In the devotion against plagues, a clean house and circulating air are part of the request.

  2. 2

    Set the orixá's table

    Candle on the saucer, a glass of water by the side and a bread or a fruit in front. It is a memory of the roça festivals, where abundance is shared with those who arrive.

  3. 3

    Speak the names of those you protect

    Hold the unlit candle and say, one by one, the names of the people in the house and of those who are sick. You do not need to explain anything, the one you pray to knows the affliction.

  4. 4

    Light and say the prayer

    Light it with a match and say the prayer on this page. Many families complete it with an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be, as in the January novenas.

  5. 5

    Share and let the candle finish

    Do not blow out the flame. When the candle finishes, the bread or the fruit goes to someone in need, the water goes to the soil of a pot and the leftover wax goes to the trash.

Precautions before lighting

  • The candle accompanies, it never replaces a vaccine, medicine or a consultation. In any illness, follow the guidance of your doctor and the health center.
  • Leave the 7-day candle on firm dishware or glass, away from curtains, children and animals. Do not leave it lit in a closed room without anyone nearby.
  • If you belong to a terreiro and want to consecrate Oxóssi, the one who says the color, day and offering is the leader of your house. The saint and the orixá have different foundations.
  • Do not use the candle to ask for harm to those who persecute you. Devotion to Saint Sebastian asks for steadfastness and protection, not punishment for others.

Ceromancy

What the flame of the Saint Sebastian Candle shows

Traditional terreiro reading. Before interpreting, check if there is no wind, crooked wick, or poor quality candle.

  • Good sign

    Firm and clear flame from beginning to end

    Many devotees read this as a guarded house and a prayer request heard. Proceed with health precautions and with gratitude, without loosening your prudence.

  • Attention

    Low and smoky flame

    Some houses read this as a heavy environment. Open the windows, perform a smoke cleansing (defumação) with eucalyptus, and light another candle on a calmer day.

  • Observe

    Wax that drips to one side only

    It could be a crooked candle or a draft of air. Some read it as a prayer request that still needs effort. Adjust the holder and continue the prayer.

  • Attention

    Wick that divides into two

    Traditionally read as a divided prayer request, with the head in two things. Choose what is more urgent and repeat the candle with a single prayer request.

  • Good sign

    Candle that ends clean in the cup

    A clear cup and little residue are usually read as a well-done delivery. Give thanks to the one you prayed to and remember to share the bread or the fruit.

Ritual bath and smoke cleansing (defumação)

Herbs that combine with the Candle of Saint Sebastian

Virtual Candle

Light the Saint Sebastian 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 altar

Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Saint Sebastian Candle

What is the Saint Sebastian candle for?

It serves to ask for protection against spreading diseases, abundance for the home, and courage in the face of persecution. It is a protection candle, lit by Catholics everywhere and by many people of Umbanda who celebrate January 20.

What is the day of Saint Sebastian and the best day to light it?

His day is January 20, a holiday in Rio de Janeiro. During the week, there is no fixed day in the Catholic tradition. Those who follow the connection with Oxóssi prefer Thursday, which is the day of the hunter orixá.

Is Saint Sebastian the same as Oxóssi?

No. Saint Sebastian is a Christian martyr, and Oxóssi is an orixá of Yoruba origin. The arrow brought the two together in the Southeast during the time when Afro worship needed to hide. In Bahia, the orixá is linked to Saint George, and many houses today separate the saint from the orixá.

Why is the Saint Sebastian candle red and green?

Red is the liturgical color of martyrs and recalls the blood of the arrows. Green comes from the forest of Oxóssi, due to syncretism. Some light only red, only green, or white, depending on the custom of the family or the house.

Can I light the Saint Sebastian candle for someone who is sick?

You can. Say the person's name, pray for them, and let the candle burn safely. The candle is a companion of faith for the treatment; it does not replace the medicine or the consultation. If you can, tell the person that you are praying for them.

What to do with the bread and the leftover wax from the Saint Sebastian candle?

The bread or fruit that remained on the altar of the orixá goes to someone in need, or is eaten by the family with gratitude. The water goes into the soil of a pot, and the leftover wax, wrapped in paper, can go into the common trash.

To read before lighting

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