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Corpse Candles
Welsh death omens—mysterious lights that travel from a house to the graveyard, marking the exact path a funeral procession will take. The color reveals who will die: blue for children, larger for adults.
Ancient - Present
Wales
500+ witnesses
Corpse Candles (Canwyll Corff) are ghostly lights from Welsh folklore that foretell death.
The Legend
According to documented folklore:
Corpse Candles:
- Are mysterious lights
- Travel from house to graveyard
- Follow the exact funeral route
- Predict an impending death
- Their size and color have meaning
Appearance
The candles appear as:
- Pale blue or white flames
- Floating a few feet off ground
- Traveling in straight lines
- Sometimes multiple lights
- Silent and steady
Interpreting the Signs
The candle reveals:
- Small blue flame: child will die
- Larger pale flame: adult death
- Multiple flames: multiple deaths
- The route: exact funeral path
- The destination: future grave site
Saint David’s Connection
Legend says:
- Saint David prayed for death warnings
- God granted the corpse candles
- To allow preparation for death
- A merciful warning
- Unique to Wales
Sightings
Common locations:
- Roads to churches
- Near houses of the dying
- Along traditional funeral paths
- Over rivers and fields
- In the night hours
Similar Phenomena
Related to:
- Will-o’-the-wisp
- Fetch candles (Ireland)
- Dead candles (Germany)
- Soul lights (Scotland)
- Ghost lights worldwide