A torch is an elongated object, pen or stick with a combustible material at one end that is highly flammable and used as a light source. Such devices have been used throughout history, and are still used in processions, symbolic and religious events, as well as in various kinds of pyrotechnic entertainments. In some countries, the word “torch” is used as a term for a portable battery-powered flashlight.
Uncomplicated design
The torch and its design changed over time depending on the purpose and purpose of the device. As a rule, this item was made of a wooden mill with one end wrapped in a material impregnated with a flammable substance. It could also be sulfur mixed with lime. This meant that the flame did not quench even after immersion in water.
Modern procession torches are made of coarse material rolled into a tube and soaked in wax. Typically, a wooden handle has a cardboard collar, which is necessary in order to reject all droplets of wax. They are lightweight, safe and relatively cheap. The main goal of the modern torch is to keep the flame at a height in the parade, or to illuminate during any celebration in the dark.
Symbol of life, enlightenment and hope
Torch - what is it? In terms of symbolism, this is a common emblem of enlightenment and hope. Crossed inverted torches were signs of mourning. The downward direction symbolizes death, while the torch, raised up, symbolizes life, truth and the regenerative power of the flame. The torch is also a symbol used by political parties, for example, Labor (from 1918 to 1980) and conservatives (from 1983 to 2006) in the UK.
An indispensable attribute of the Olympic Games
An Olympic torch is an object carried by cross-country runners in the relay. It is used to ignite the Olympic flame, which will burn without interruption until the end of the games. These torches and the relay tradition were introduced at the 1936 Summer Olympics by Carl Diem, chairman of the event. During the ancient Olympics in Olympia, sacred flame burned inside the temple of Hera, kept in custody of priests.
This fire symbolized the desire for protection and the struggle for victory. The torch relay also began at the ancient Olympic Games and was revived at the Berlin Games of 1936. Initially, the torch was lit at Olympia in Greece, and then transferred by relay to the host city of the games. The torch relay symbolizes the transition of Olympic traditions from generation to generation.
Eternal flame
The ancient Greeks considered fire a divine element, and they maintained eternal fires in front of their main temples. So it was in the sanctuary of Olympia. The flame was illuminated by the rays of the sun to ensure its purity.
Flames constantly burned on the altar of the goddess Hestia, and the same lights were lit on the altars of Zeus and Hera, in front of the temple of which the Olympic flame is lit today. In the context of modern games, the Olympic flame torch personifies those positive values that a person has always associated with fire. Purification of the flame is guaranteed by lighting using the rays of the sun.
Other applications
Modern juggling torches are made of wood or metal with a special wick at the end that is impregnated with a flammable liquid, usually paraffin (kerosene).
Fireworks, otherwise called torches, are very popular among pyrotechnic lovers. These items are capable of producing a bright glow or intense heat without explosion. Initially having a more serious purpose, over time, fireworks and torches for juggling became popular in the entertainment sector.