The Bayberry Tradition Set

A gift that comes with its own ritual. Two hand-poured real bayberry tapers and the book that explains why, since colonial times, you burn one all the way down on Christmas Eve.

"A bayberry candle burned to the socket brings luck to the home and gold to the pocket."

What's in the box

• Two real bayberry tapers, 10", hand-poured in Punta Gorda, Florida
• Burned to the Socket: America's Bayberry Tradition, hardcover
• A printed card with the rhyme and the ritual (included with every pair of our tapers — this is how the tradition gets passed on)

Ships together on 11/02/2026 so the book and the tapers arrive as one gift.

The real thing
Real bayberry wax comes from bayberries. Pounds of them, boiled and skimmed, to render enough wax for a single taper. It's one of the most expensive candle waxes there is, which is why nearly everyone stopped making it generations ago and why most "bayberry" candles are green paraffin with a fragrance added. Ours is the wax itself: naturally olive-green, no dye, a quiet earthy scent, a slow clean burn. We've been pouring it for 20 years.

The tradition
On Christmas Eve, or New Year's Eve, light a bayberry taper and let it burn all the way down to the socket. Tradition says it brings luck and prosperity for the year ahead. It's one of the oldest candle rituals in America and one of the least known. The book tells the whole story: where it came from, how the wax was made in the colonies, and why it nearly disappeared.

How to keep it
Light your taper in a holder, on a surface that can take a full burn. Let it burn all the way down, about 1 inch per hour, so plan for an evening. Never leave it unattended. Keep the second taper for next year, or give it to someone who's never done this.

Good to know
The wax is rendered from berries, not scented to smell like them. Each taper burns about 1-inch per hour. Order by 12/15/2026 for Christmas Eve delivery. Ships to any address.