I seem to remember seeing them for sale around this time last year. Usually they are in a pack of two or three. The only reason I have been able to come up with is the proximity of halloween or all souls day. Are they to take to the cemetary? I have seen them burning at the side of the road by a shrine sort of place (flowers and photographs), probably someone had been killed there and another time I saw them outside a flat where somebody had been murdered.

They're usually placed on graves around All Souls' Day together with wreaths. You'll also see them on the side of the road where someone's been killed in a car accident.

I've also seen them on the bridge near us. Since it is well-known locally as a suicide bridge (> 20 years), I have assumed that the candles were for recent suicides, and/or anniversary of a suicide.

The ones on the bridge and near the road are often accompanied by [fake] flowers and/or notes.

They are called "Grablicht" in German or eternal light. They are for the memory of a person when they have passed on.

Aldi has them on sale now:
http://www.aldi-suisse.ch/ch/html/of...?WT.z_src=main

Could that be why you see so many?

You can buy them year-round at Migros, Coop, Denner, etc. as well.

LED grave candles, what is this world coming to?

You can see these candles on graveyards, too.

I have them on my balcony I never realised they were for rememberence until a friend pointed it out a few weeks ago!!

Do you mean those that change colour in the waxy body?
Those are fascinatingly tacky. I'm drawn to them like a moth.

No, the candles from MarieZug's link are battery operated. But kitschy candles are also a courageous addition to grave decorations.

As was said, those red candles are lit as a symbol of remembrance of someone who has passed away. These are 7 day candles. Generally when someone dies you morn for 7 days* right after the death on the 7th day there is a religious celebration and a get together of family & friends to remember the departed. (this is more or less how I remember it).

*I think this is the time of the souls transit, but i don't remember.


Another reason to dislike Aldi!

I found it strange getting an email for their weekly specials with LED "Gravelights". I thought - gee - they're cheap! I should stock up in case I need some.

Seriously, it is rather inappropriate.

What is so inappropriate about an LED gravelight? Making it? Selling it? Advertising it?

Advertising it by email as a weekly special is inappropriate. Think about those who are grieving and are reminded about it in an advertisement received at work by email.

You shouldn't be receiving advertisement e-mails at work in the first place.



(ok, just kidding)

We had a death in our family not too long ago, and my wife being a former Catholic from Swissieland's easternly neighbor, candles were involved and still are everytime we visit the grave. I personally would not mind knowing where I could get a good deal on electric or wax grave candles.

But maybe my years of working as a medic have distorted my view a bit and turned me, shall we say, macabre?

To me, the act of lighting the candle is part of the ritual and replacing it with the flipping of a switch is a bit odd. But it's certainly better to use a robocandle instead of not remembering those who passed away.

Zermatt Churchyard

Rod

Agree 100%. Even for me as a non-Catholic, the candle has a meaning and lighting it is part of the ritual, whether it is in church or at a grave.

I don't have graves to visit to commemorate my loved ones. I buy a gorgeous big plant and add one of those candles. It's a comfort seeing that red glow on the balcony coming in through the window.

I too have no grave to visit but I put pictures up and light a candle. However, for some reason I've never liked those red candles... I just don't think they're pretty but then I'm not catholic... I have my own strange rituals but from what I remember burning is the symbolic crossing from this world to the next. I prefer the thought that my love and thoughts are burning still for that person...