“In a country that is mourning the young martyrs, would it be unwise of me to make a new collection for Valentine's Day?" This was the question that Ghada Karim, a candle-maker, asked her friends and customers on her Facebook page, before forging ahead with her Valentine's collection. Ghada received many answers to this question, most of them advising her to make the candles, as they were waiting for them. They told her that they were sorely in need of a gleam of hope and light in these unstable times, something that her happy candles give them. “I was really hesitant about doing a new collection for Valentine's or not," she explains. “But the feedback from my friends and clients gave me a push to really start working hard on the new collection. Their support gave me positive energy." Ghada says that, due to the circumstances here and because of the people who have died for Egypt's sake, she has decide to call her new collection ‘For Love of Egypt'. “Although I feel that this Valentine's Day will be a gloomy one, candles always radiate hope in people's souls. This year's Valentine's shouldn't be a traditional one for lovers only; it should also be for love of Egypt. “All Egyptians should remember the martyrs who have died to make Egypt a better place for all of us," she stresses. Ghada's new collection consists of candles of different shapes, some with the colours of the Egyptian flag and others carrying photos of the Pyramids and the Sphinx, which reflect the beauty of Egypt. ‘I love Egypt' is written halfway up the candle and ‘I love you' at the top, linking the love of lovers with love of Egypt. “I've also made another collection for couples who don't like the idea of ‘For Love of Egypt' and prefer giving each other a present for lovers. I've made candles of different shapes. Some are shaped like red hearts and others are adorned with flowers and romantic words," she continues. Ghada says that the latest theme for her Valentine's collection is flowers of every kind and special words written on the candles. She has chosen these words from the poems of Palestine's Mahmoud Darwish and the songs of legendary Egyptian singer Um Khalthom; she has also come up with some of the words on her own. "Sometimes, clients ask me to write special words they have chosen themselves and sometimes they leave it to me, as they trust me," she explains. Ghada started working in this field in 2004. She began by making candles for fun for herself, then started making them for charity. She really got into the idea and, before she knew it, she'd turned professional, making a career out of candles. Ghada works all day to make her happy candles with her hands, without any help from anyone else. “I feel that every candle I make is a work of art, created by my own hands," she adds enthusiastically. For every candle Ghada makes a smaller candle inside called a ‘tea light', which can easily be replaced, according to whatever smell the client likes. The tea light is put inside the candle to preserve it and make it last longer. “Candles have their own language, which can change people's psychology," Ghada explains. “The scents of the tea light has an effect on people's souls." She stresses that these scents change people's moods and lighten their hearts. Tea lights with mint give a sense of cleanliness, and orange and lemon give a feeling of refreshment, while strawberry makes one feel cheerful and lavender helps people relax. Ghada's customers say that candles are now used for decoration, having become part of Egyptians' culture; they are suitable for all occasions and make wonderful presents for people of every age. Her prices are very reasonable for many people, ranging between LE35 ($5.29) and LE150 ($22.33) per happy candle. “I am inspired by nature and everything I see around me. The materials also inspire me, as well as my customers, who keep on encouraging me to think up new ideas," she told the Egyptian Mail. Ghada uses dried flowers, natural flowers, dried fruits, cinnamon, coffee and many other materials. She markets her products on Facebook, as it's an easy way to reach everyone. Anyone can order her candles via her Facebook page (Happy Candle), with Ghada promising to deliver her customers' orders within seven days. Some of her customers live as far afield as Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Paris and Italy. “I can also make specially shaped candles for occasions like Christmas, Mother's Day and the birth of a child. As for the candles I make for engagement and wedding parties, they take the shape of the bride's dress and the groom's suit," she explained. “I also employ Islamic calligraphy and make candles shaped like cupcakes. I can make any shape the client wants – just let me know."
