We already know that "candle" (Old English: candel) comes from the Latin word candere, to shine. It ultimately comes from the Indo-European root kand-, which is "to glow, to shine, to shoot out light."
But what is especially neat I think is that my source specifies that having candles on a birthday cake was probably originally a German custom!
Also, "burning the candle at both ends" is recorded from 1730.
(http://www.etymonline.com/)
P.S. I chose this word because I have the song "Light My Candle" from Rent stuck in my head and have for several days now.
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