A candleholder is an object designed to hold a candle securely while it burns. The simplest candleholders have a cup or spike that keeps the candle upright, while fancier ones might be made of brass, silver, or crystal and include decorative details.

Candleholders matter because burning candles create hot, dripping wax and open flames. A good candleholder catches the wax and keeps the candle from tipping over and starting a fire. Before electric lights were invented, every home needed candleholders just to see after dark. People used candlesticks (tall holders for single candles), candelabras (branched holders for multiple candles), or simple clay dishes.

Today we mostly use candleholders for decoration, birthday cakes, or special occasions. You might see them on a dinner table, in religious ceremonies, or during power outages when you actually need the light. A menorah is a special kind of candleholder used during Hanukkah, with spaces for nine candles.