It is a light in the time of darkness and a little flicker of hope when we need it the most, writes Sara Marsden-Ille in her article "Memorial candle- the ritual of lighting a candle in remembrance.”

When the flame of a memorial candle is lit, we are participating in a ritual that has endured for thousands of years and a practice that is commonly shared among cultures and religions.

Lighting a candle in honour of a loved one signified that the memory still lives on and burns bright. It is a ritual that promotes reflection and signified remembrance.

It can be traced back to civilisations in the fourth and fifth centuries. The Macedonians used to light candles for up to forty days after death, according to frazerconsultants.com. They believed that the flame can ward off ghosts and demons that might harm the deceased’s soul.

The Greeks and Romans also used candles or torches to guide the dead in their final journey. Some cultures in Asian and Europe buried their dead with lamps and unlit candles to give them light even in their next life.

In religious traditions, light is also considered pure, life-nourishing and dispels darkness, according to biblical John 8: 12, "As such light became a befitting symbol for God, the ‘Blessed Savior’, as referred to in the bible as "the light of the world”.

It is also related to the Jewish and Christian practice, according to Frazer Consultants.com. In Judaism, the memories of a loved one are carried out through a tradition called Yahrzeit which is a practice of lighting a candle on the anniversary of a loved one’s death and the candle stays lit for 25 hours and is accompanied by prayer.

Today, remembrance candles remain prevalent among memorial services and funerals and they won’t be going away any time soon. We light candles as a sign of hope and comfort, and as a reminder of the fire a loved one brought into our life.