Havdalah: A Holy Goodbye and a Hopeful Beginning
There’s a unique peace that settles over our homestead as Shabbat draws to a close. The sun dips low, casting long golden shadows, and there’s a hush in the air—one last quiet moment before we return to the week ahead. And in that moment, we pause once more, not to say goodbye to Shabbat, but to usher it out with honor and hope. This is the essence of Havdalah.
Havdalah—meaning “separation” in Hebrew—is the brief, beautiful ceremony that marks the transition from the sacred time of rest into the ordinary days of work. It’s the thread that ties holy to humble, rest to labor, and spirit to body.
What Is the Havdalah Ceremony?
Havdalah is a sensory-rich ritual performed at nightfall on Saturday. It involves three blessings over four elements:
A cup of wine (symbolizing joy and abundance)
Spices (to “sweeten” the parting of Shabbat)
A special braided candle (representing the unity of many into one flame)
And finally, the blessing of separation—between holy and ordinary, light and darkness, rest and work
A traditional Havdalah set with a braided candle, a spice “box,” and a wine cup.
As the candle is lit, the flame is held high. We draw the sweet-smelling spices near to carry a trace of Shabbat into the week ahead. We gaze at the flame reflected in our fingernails—an old tradition that reminds us to take action with our hands in the new week. Then, with a song and a swirl of wine to quench the flame, we step forward with peace.
Why We Love Havdalah
For our family, Havdalah is a moment of intentional transition. We light our candle slowly, breathe in the cloves and cinnamon, and sing the blessings with voices softened by rest. I often make the candle myself from rolled beeswax, and the warmth of the natural wax somehow makes it feel more alive—like it remembers the flowers the bees visited.
There’s something comforting about rhythms that remind us who we are. Havdalah brings beauty to a threshold moment. It gives us a way to carry light into the coming week, even as the restful glow of Shabbat fades.
If you’d like to make your own candle for Havdalah, I’ve shared our family’s easy rolled beeswax candle tutorial below.
Lighting the Havdalah candle
How to Make a Rolled Beeswax Havdalah Candle
This DIY is simple enough for beginners, meaningful enough to gift, and perfect for little hands to help.
You’ll Need:
2 to 4 sheets of beeswax candle sheets (honeycomb texture works best)
Cotton wick (at least 12 inches long)
Ruler
Hair dryer or sunny window (to soften wax for easier rolling)
Scissors or craft knife
Optional: twine or ribbon to tie when gifting
Step 1: Cut and Prepare Your Wax Sheets
Each beeswax sheet is typically around 8" x 16". To make a Havdalah candle, you’ll want to roll two sheets together side by side and braid two finished candles into one.
Cut each sheet in half lengthwise (8" x 8") if you want a shorter candle or leave whole for a tall candle. You’ll need two sheets per candle, so four total for a standard braided Havdalah candle.
Soften the sheets gently with a hair dryer or lay them in the sun for a few minutes.
Step 2: Insert the Wick
Lay your wick along the edge of the sheet, leaving about ½" sticking out at the top.
Press gently and begin to roll tightly around the wick.
Once you’ve finished rolling the first sheet, overlap a second sheet slightly and continue to roll. This gives the candle strength and thickness.
Step 3: Make Two Candles
Repeat the steps above to make a second candle. You’ll now have two sturdy rolled beeswax candles, ready to braid.
Step 4: Warm and Twist
Gently warm the finished candles again until flexible.
Twist or braid the two together while warm. The honeycomb texture helps them grip one another.
Be gentle—they’ll firm up quickly as they cool.
If needed, press the base flat so the candle can stand or be set in a holder.
Step 5: Store or Use
Tie with twine or ribbon and store in a cool place until Havdalah.
When lit, the candle will produce a beautiful wide flame—perfect for the blessing over fire. You’ll see why it’s called a "torch" in the blessing!
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re lighting a store-bought candle or crafting your own, the light of Havdalah shines the same—warm, sacred, and hopeful. If you haven’t yet made this ritual part of your Shabbat rhythm, give it a try this week. You may just find, as we did, that there’s no better way to end Shabbat than with sweetness, song, and candlelight.
Want to keep this tutorial? Download a free printable version of the rolled beeswax Havdalah candle instructions, including English and Hebrew prayers below—and don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter to get more homestead crafts and Messianic traditions delivered straight to your inbox.