The candle shop

In San Cristóbal de Las Casas, the artisan manufacture of candles and wax, together with the wax maker job, is one of the most widespread and reputed traditions since colonial times. Today, the most frequent use of handmade candles is as an ornament in homes due to its decorative value.

The professional artisans of the Merced neighborhood, who work the candles by hand, use the general technique of heating and molding materials such as paraffin or wax, with a cotton wick. This last material comes out of each of the eight wax glands that worker bees possess. The regular candles, little candles, and pashcal candles are used mainly for religious purposes to decorate the pallions of the Holy Week brotherhoods, or churches.