That this custom was prevalent among the christians in the first century, is evident from many authors. Professor Beckman, in his History of Inventions, vol. iii, p. 383, says, that "the fathers of the first century frequently inveigh against the christians, because, to please the heathens, they often illuminated their houses, on idolatrous festivals, in a more elegant manner than they. This they considered as a species of idolatry. That the houses of the ancients were illuminated on birth-days, by suspending lamps from chains, is too well known to require any proof."
At Damascus, the Turks always keep a lamp burning over the tomb, as it is called, of Ananias, which they much reverenced. It is said to be in the same house in which St. Paul lodged with Judas. (See Maundrel's Travels from Aleppo to Jerusalem.)
Lamps, according to Dr. Pococke, are kept continually burning in the Jewish synagogue at Old Cairo, said to have been built about sixteen hundred years ago. (See Pococke's Travels through Egypt.)
In Persia, lamps are kept burning in consequence of some religious notion, and particularly at the sepulchre of Seid Ibraham. (See Travels through Muscovy into Persia.)
A lighted lamp is frequently put up in Persia as a mark to shoot at. To be a good shot, the marksman must extinguish it. At the celebration of the feast called Ashur or Ten, from its lasting ten days, which is kept in memory of Hossein, the youngest son of Hali, the Persians make use of rags dipped in suet and naphtha, and burn them in lamps; and their courts are lighted up with thousands of lamps, the light from which is increased by as many more lanterns made of paper, that are fastened to cords drawn across the court.
The Chinese, in celebrating their solemn feasts, especially on the 15th day of the first month, called the Feast of the lanterns, from the multitude and grandeur of the lamps they exhibit in the evening, are remarkable for the splendour of their exhibitions. We are informed, (A Description of China, &c.), that many of the grandees, retrenching every year something from their tables, apparel, and equipage, to show the greater magnificence in the lanterns, used on this occasion, expend the sum of 2000 crowns. The largest are about twenty feet in diameter, and are lighted by an immense number of wax candles and lamps; but those that are most common, are of a middling size. These are generally composed of six faces, or panes, each of which has a frame of varnished wood, adorned with gildings four feet high, a foot and a half broad, covered on the inside with fine transparent silk, on which are painted flowers, trees, rocks, and sometimes human figures. The painting is very curious, the colours lively, and the wax candles give the painting a beautiful splendour. These six pannels joined together, compose a hexagon, surmounted at the extremities by six carved figures, that form its crown. Around it are hung broad strings of satin, of all colours, with other silken ornaments, that fall upon the angles without hiding the light of the pictures. The feast of the lanterns is also celebrated by bonfires and fire-works.
Candles are also used for the same purpose. Chandeliers, differently made, and holding a greater or smaller number of candles, add greatly to the effect.
The candles used by the natives of Otaheite are curiously made. According to Cooke, (First Voyage, &c.), they have candles made of a kind of oily nut, which they stick one over another upon a skewer thrust through the middle of them. The upper one being lighted, burns down to the second, at the same time consuming that part of the skewer which goes through it; the second, taking fire, burns in the same manner down to the third, and so of the rest. These candles give a tolerable light, and some of them will burn a considerable time.
The lighting of streets, Beckman considers in some respects to be a modern invention, and after quoting various authorities concludes, that, of modern cities, Paris was the first that followed the example of the ancients by lighting its streets. It appears, therefore, that the practice of illuminating was reserved by the ancients for some great occasion, that lighting of the streets was more or less partial, and confined to particular places, and that it was not general without some particular occasion called for it. (See [Illuminations.])