Sharing fire is traditional in many cultures. For instance, the Kung tribe of South Africa bring a bit of the hot stuff from the bride's family hearth and some from the groom's- these are combined to begin the first fire in the kitchen of a newly-married couple. It is both symbolic and functional and a lovely way to begin their new life together. A similar tradition is enjoyed in the West as well, and it's called the ceremony of the 'unity candle'.

When lovers decide to marry they are, essentially merging their two families. Sometimes more than two. Performing a unity ceremony with the softly glowing light of wax candles symbolizes this in a special way. The bride and groom each bring a lit candle to the altar where a third, larger, unlit candle awaits. They simultaneously light this third 'unity' candle with their respective flames and thus bring into being a new light, one shared by both their families and representing the new family unit that begins that day.

In these times when family-blending takes many varied forms, performing a unity ceremony can be a beautiful way of evincing the love and cooperation that led the celebrants to that special day. If children are being brought into the new marriage, by all means allow them to take part in the act of passing fire from the divergent hearths into the new family that they will be part of. In this way, the children (who sometimes feel 'left out' of things like adult weddings) can be active participants. The unity candle celebration is a tradition to be enjoyed and passed along again and again. It's about sharing and cooperating and celebrating the dance that is love.