Why is this night different from all other nights?

Picture by KJ Photography

& is used with permission.

Chag Pesach Sameach to all our Jewish friends!

For those of you who aren't Jewish, the festival of Passover begins today and ends next Tuesday (April 18). I have been informed that on the penultimate day of Passover, a yahrzeit candle is lit on sundown and burns all night and day, ending when Passover ends.

This is of no small interest to me, because prior to this the only long-lasting candles that I have seen were the bulky and not-cheap 36 hour survival candles that everyone knows about. But for about the same price a one 36-hour candle, you can get six Yahrzeit candles. Admittedly, you can't cook with them like you can with the 36-hour ones, but at this price they're a great way to make sure you have illumination during power outages.

Now before you start to worry if this is sacrilegious, I specifically asked that question of a Jewish friend and I was told "My parents have used them for years as a bathroom nightlight during power outages - they come in a glass container, fit into the toothbrush/cup holder tile thing, and are odorless." 

What's more, because of Passover, these candles are likely to be on sale for a while, sometimes as low as 30-50 cents each. You can find them at just about any supermarket that has an "ethnic foods" section -- just look for the kosher food and you'll find these.