Each candle represents a principle that gives focus to Kwanzaa and, according to some of its observants, gives blacks a code for survival.

Where did this tradition start and what do the candles represent?

In the days leading to Christmas some people burn a candle a set amount to represent each day, as marked on the candle.

The blue candles represent wind and water, elemental forces that are ever free.

Kindled less than 24 hours after the attack on Israel, the candle represented a silent prayer for peace.

The 36 candles used in the demonstration represented the number of deer expected to be killed during the controlled hunt, which will run until Dec. 25.

In the ZX Spectrum version of the game, a candle represents the timer.

(If there are no siblings, then this candle can represent the grandparents.)

The candle in the centre of the orange represents the light of Christ to the world.

The first candle represents the light of Divine Truth, and from it all the other nine candles are lit.