Mairg a d’ithe cuid an tsolais. It means ‘Woe to the one who eats the light’s share’. So what does THAT mean?... . . These are candles that i made to give out as gifts later this month. Most of us think little enough about having light to see by when it’s dark. Electric power comes from somewhere and as long as the bill is paid it’s (probably) there. Maybe you’ve had the experience of not being able to spend too much on food so that you could keep the lights on. . . . In pre-industrial/fossil fuel times, this dilemma took a slightly different form. Lamps and candles then were (usually) powered by otherwise edible fats and oils, like olive oil or ghee or, in the case of these candles, tallow (deer tallow specifically, scented with orange peel oil). Each of these candles contains about 450 calories, about a meal’s worth of precious energy. So for someone sourcing their goods directly from their environment, burning the midnight oil is not a sacrifice to be taken for granted. But as the proverb above suggests, keeping some on hand to cast light when light is needed is the wise thing to do. . . . #candlemaking #crimbo #gaeilge #primitiveskills #survival #crafting #bushcraft #foresttotable https://www.instagram.com/p/BrHfZR0hSRJ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=noo4m2x5a21v