DIY: Wildflower imprinted candle holder
Handmade memorial candle holder pressed and imprinted with wildflowers
In Judaism, there’s a beautiful tradition to light a yahrzeit candle after sunset on the evening of the anniversary of a loved one’s passing. It’s said that when a soul departs from this world, it leaves behind a dark void, but the flame from the candle replenishes the light.
The Yiddish word yahrzeit translates to “a year’s time” or “the time of one year.” I don’t think there’s been a day in this last year when I haven’t thought of my dad, and I was really touched when my neighborhood Chabad sent me a candle and his yahrzeit date on the Hebrew calendar. Since this is his first yahrzeit , I decided to make a special clay holder for the candle.
I have limited skills with clay, so I opted for a simple design - really just two small rectangles. My dad loved to bring my mom flowers, so I gently pressed wildflowers into the clay for a lasting floral imprint.
If you’d like to remember someone you love with a beautiful little memorial candle holder, you can follow the steps below.
DIY Wildflower Pressed Memorial Candle Holder
Here’s what you’ll need to make your own:
Air dry clay
Wild flowers or leaves
Rolling pin
Exacto knife
Paintbrush
Small bowl of water
Optional:
Cutting mat
Here’s how to make it:
1. Gather flowers. Since I am working on a small surface of clay, I decided to use tiny wildflowers. These cuties grow right beyond the fence of my backyard, and they were perfect. If you’re picking flowers right from the ground, be sure to remove any dirt.
2. Roll a slab of clay about 1/4” thick and large enough to cut two rectangles about 8” x 3” each.
Since the yahrzeit candle was small, I decided to make a tray for the candle holder to rest on, so one piece of rectangular clay will become the tray, and the second will become the candle holder. Clay shrinks when it dries, so it’s a good idea keep this in mind as your cutting your clay to size.
3. Arrange your wildflowers on top of the clay (I decided to move my clay pieces to a cutting mat).
4. Use the rolling pin to gently press the flowers into the clay…
and lift. Repeat steps 3, 4 and 5 with the second rectangle of clay.
5. For the rectangle that will become the candle, bring the short ends together in a tube and press the edges together. Dampen the bottom of the tube and gently place it on the tray. I used the top of the paintbrush to carefully press the bottom of the tube into the tray.
4. Let the clay dry for 1 to 2 days before using. If you have any rough edges, you can smooth them out with a nail file (or sandpaper).
Lighting a yahrzeit candle is a part of healing and a special way to remember someone you love. There aren’t any official prayers or blessings to recite. Simply light the candle and have this moment in time. If you’d like, you can say a bracha sheh b’lev, a blessing from your heart.
It felt really special to make this candle holder for my dad, and I’m thankful to Rabbi Majesky of Chabad of North Orlando for sending it to me. Do you have any special ways to remember someone you love? If you’d like, please share in the comments below.
You can visit our blog for more meaningful Jewish inspired activities. ❤
~Jennifer
