Schlitz Christmas Candle

The Schlitz Christmas Candle is a candle-like structure unveiled every Christmas season in Schlitz, a small town in Hesse, Germany. It is approximately 42-metre (138 ft) tall, and is thought to be the largest non-wax candle in the world.[1][2][3][4][5] The candle is created by draping a red cloth over the stone tower at the center of the town. The tower is then topped off with an electric flame to give the impression of a Christmas candle, which can be seen from great distances looming above the town's Tudor-style buildings.[1][2] The tower used to form the candle is called the Hinterturm, which was built in the 14th century, and is the remnant of a castle that no longer stands. An elevator inside the Hinterturm takes visitors to the top of the tower.[3]

Burgenblick

The candle has been a yearly tradition in Schlitz since the Christmas Candle was first established on November 28, 1991.[2] The candle serves as the town's Christmas market, which includes vendors, activities, entertainment and guest appearances by Santa Claus[1] Mayor Hans-Jürgen Schäfer said of the candle, "People come from all over Germany just to take a look at the Christmas candle. Of course, this brings Schlitz to the attention of people all over the world."[1] Every year in January, the town receives newspaper clippings from all over the world with stories about the Schlitz Christmas Candle.[1]

Before the Schlitz Christmas Candle, the largest non-wax candle in the world was believed to be the Peace Candle, a tower-like structure assembled every holiday season in Easton, a Pennsylvania city in the United States.[2]