If you use candles to ward off evil spirits are you not putting faith in a material object, or idol as you would know it?
Are you saying that the use of candles has pagan origin? I just thought it was to symbolize the passing of years since you are supposed to use the same number of candles as the age and then you blow them out by making a wish , in which case I'm willing to bet nobody wishes to survive til the next bithday .LOL
Modern birthday parties and celebrations by children take their form mainly from Germany, where the birthday child received gifts, chose a menu and received a candle-ringed butter or jam cake. The lighted candles for the cake may have originated from the birthday of the Greek moon goddess Artemis. Pagan worshippers honored her every month with moon-shaped honey cakes. Because the moon glows with light, the cakes were decorated with lighted candles.
Saying “happy birthday” to friends and loved ones was society’s superstitious way of protecting them from evil spirits. Birthday thumps, bumps, pinches, etc., were said to bring luck and send away evil spirits. Party snappers, horns and other noisemakers were also intended to scare off bad-luck spirits.
I thought all of this was well known amongst all of you.