As you walk through your cemetery, you might notice some Houston Jewish monuments have small candle boxes. These are usually to provide a safe space for yahrzeit candles. There are several reasons you might want to include a small space for memorial candles for your loved one’s headstone design. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the benefits.
Why Include Candle Boxes for Your Loved Ones’ Houston Jewish Monuments?
When designing Houston Jewish headstones for your loved ones, you’re likely thinking about the color of the granite and what kinds of inscriptions to include to memorialize the person. One thing to also think about is how the headstone will accommodate certain customs, like the yahrzeit candle.
While many people light candles in their homes, some people prefer to light the candle near the grave site if the cemetery allows. In order to allow the candle to burn for the full 24 hours, and to prevent the flame from spreading, many people include small boxes in Houston Jewish monuments themselves for this special custom. These boxes help protect the candle from things like wind and rain that might extinguish it before the proper time and also help contain the flame in fire-proof material like stone or metal. Our team can help you design your loved ones’ memorials to suit your needs.
Purpose of Yahrzeit or Yizkor Candles
Yahrzeit candles, also commonly known as yizkor candles, are a common tradition that many people take part in. These are candles that burn for approximately 24 hours and are lit in remembrance of a lost loved one. As the name suggests, it’s common to light these on the yahrzeit, or the anniversary of the person’s death.
As we mentioned, many people choose to light yahrzeit candles in their home, rather at the graveside. However, some prefer to light the candle during their annual visit to the grave during yahrzeit instead.
If the yahrzeit falls on Sabbath or a holiday, then usually the family visits the grave and lights the candle the day before. It’s traditional to choose a candle that will burn for 48 hours instead, so that you may light the candle the day before and the candle will remain burning until the end of
It’s also common to light them during other times of the year. For instance, many families light a yahrzeit candle for the seven days of shiva. Some families also light memorial candles during Yom HaShoah, also known as Holocaust Remembrance Day, to remember those killed in the Holocaust.
Many also light candles for departed loved ones during holidays where you recite Yizkor, such as Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Passover, and Shavuot, to remember close relatives like parents, children, spouses, and siblings.
Beautiful, Custom Houston Jewish Headstones from Gaitz Memorials
Our team at Gaitz Memorials is here to help you custom design beautiful headstones for your loved ones. We specialize in creating Houston Jewish monuments and offer a variety of styles. Our headstones are made of fine grade granite to provide lasting memorialization for your loved one. We work with you to completely personalize each headstone for your loved one and your preferences. Our compassionate team is here to guide you through these important decisions, including balancing beautiful design with Houston headstone cost to fit your budget. Contact us at (281) 888-5522 to discuss your memorial needs with our team.