Schlitz Christmas Candle

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Burgenblick
Schlitz Guinness Book of Records certificate DSF7962

The Schlitz Christmas Candle is a candle-like structure unveiled every Christmas season in Schlitz, a small town in Hesse, Germany. It is approximately 42-metre (138 ft) tall, and is thought to be the largest non-wax candle in the world.[1][2][3][4][5] The candle is created by draping a red cloth over the stone tower at the center of the town. The tower is then topped off with an electric flame to give the impression of a Christmas candle, which can been seen from great distances looming above the town's Tudor-style buildings.[1][2] The tower used to form the candle is called the Hinterturm, which was built in the 14th century, and is the remnant of a castle that no longer stands. An elevator inside the Hinterturm takes visitors to the top of the tower.[3]

The candle has been a yearly tradition in Schlitz since the Christmas Candle was first established on November 28, 1991.[2] The candle serves as the town's Christmas market, which includes vendors, activities, entertainment and guest appearances by Santa Claus[1] Mayor Hans-Jürgen Schäfer said of the candle, "People come from all over Germany just to take a look at the Christmas candle. Of course, this brings Schlitz to the attention of people all over the world."[1] Every year in January, the town receives newspaper clippings from all over the world with stories about the Schlitz Christmas Candle.[1]

Before the Schlitz Christmas Candle, the largest non-wax candle in the world was believed to be the Peace Candle, a tower-like structure assembled every holiday season in Easton, a Pennsylvania city in the United States.[2]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Partridge, Joanna (2008-12-07). "World's biggest Christmas candle". Reuters. Retrieved 2009-12-22. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 McEvoy, Colin (2009-12-20). "How Easton measures up: Peace Candle not the tallest, but plenty tall". The Express-Times (Easton, Pennsylvania). p. A1. Retrieved 2009-12-22. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Jaeger, Peter (2008-05-06). "Quick Trips: Drink in the ancient German origin of Schlitz beer". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 2009-12-23. 
  4. ↑ Egert, Jeanne (2009-12-05). "Advent: A time to reflect and assess". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 2009-12-22. 
  5. ↑ http://www.germany.travel/pt/especiais/natal/christmas-market-in-schlitz.html

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Schlitz, Vogelsbergkreis.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hinterturm.

Coordinates: 50°40′23″N 9°33′38″E / 50.673036°N 9.560611°E / 50.673036; 9.560611

See also

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