In Germany, it is explained that while the likelihood of power supply interruptions is low, demand for candle lighting is high.
The rising demand was already a noticeable side effect previously, as people spent more time at home during the pandemic – that is how a candle manufacturers' representative explains the situation.
This Christmas, Germans are seeking comfort in the warm glow of candle flames, as the revival of festive traditions combined with fears of power loss makes candles the latest target for stockpiling.
Many German households observe the tradition on the First Advent by lighting the first of four candles on an Advent wreath, which is usually placed on a table or hung above it.
However, as the country is gripped by fears over gas rationing and electricity blackouts caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, candles have also been reborn as a reliable form of home lighting. Home improvement retail chain Bauhaus stated that it had observed increasing demand for "all types of candles, including tea lights, wax, and so-called pillar candles". Compared with the previous winter, sales have increased by around a quarter.
As the consumer protection association "Environmental Action Germany" (DUH) called on residents to forgo US-style "lighting orgies" this year and leave their LED fairy lights in the attic, some Christmas tree sellers have started offering real candles as a more energy-efficient alternative to electric lights. Public broadcaster ARD recently published a short video clip advising people not to set up homemade "tea light ovens" to heat their homes. It warned that the heat generated is negligible compared to the potential risk of fire.
“We really didn't know what to expect this year,” notes Anna Christine Müller of Müller Kerzen, a candle manufacturing company in western Germany that operates across Europe. “But it seems people will be stocking up on candles ahead of an uncertain winter. My family has been in the candle industry for eight generations, and it turns out our business is very resilient to crises. In difficult times, people long for a flickering flame.”
After two years of a sales boom, the Bavarian candle manufacturing company Gala had also predicted that sales would fall to pre-pandemic levels. “But all this talk of power cuts has prompted people to stockpile, so we haven't noticed a difference,” explained a representative for the manufacturer.
Germany's Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance stated this week that "a large-scale power outage in Germany this winter is very unlikely". The likelihood of regional power supply interruptions is also low, the national grid regulator pointed out. Germany has many mechanisms in place to stabilise the grid in the event of short-term disruptions.
Meanwhile, Gala manager Thomas Schröder (Thomas Schröder) said that the increase in candle sales also points to a broader cultural trait. “In Germany, there has always been a deep longing for that kind of Gemütlichkeit, or cosiness, when people gather around an open flame,” he said. “That is why there are still people like me who insist on lighting the Christmas tree with real candles rather than fairy lights. And a bucket of water is kept ready for fire safety.” Thomas Schröder did, however, acknowledge that most Germans use electric lights on their trees. This trend is unlikely to be broken this year.
The German Insurance Association, which is the umbrella organisation for private insurers, reports that the number of fire-related claims has been consistently decreasing since December 2015.