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A burning torch, discarded on the road in the wake of the Lewes Bonfire Night celebrations.

Originally, a torch was a portable source of fire used as a source of light, usually a rod-shaped piece of wood with a rag soaked in pitch and/or some other flammable material wrapped around one end. Torches were often supported in sconces by brackets high up on walls, to throw light over corridors in stone structures such as castles or crypts. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... For the Parliament song, see Flash Light (song). ... The word torch can mean: A portable burning light source: see torch: this is its original meaning. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1374x952, 310 KB) Lewes Bonfire Night. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1374x952, 310 KB) Lewes Bonfire Night. ... This is about Lewes in England. ... For other uses, see Fire (disambiguation). ... The pitch drop experiment. ... An electric sconce in the lobby of a luxury hotel Sconce for holding a torch on the walls of the Medici palace, Florence, Italy. ... For other uses, see Castle (disambiguation). ... Crypt is also a commonly used name of water trumpets, aquatic plants. ...

A torch carried in relay by cross-country runners is used to light the Olympic flame which burns without interruption until the following Olympics. These torches were introduced first by movie maker Leni Riefenstahl for the 1936 Summer Olympics in Nazi-Germany.^{[citation needed]} The flame at the 2002 Winter Olympics The Olympic Flame, Olympic Fire, Olympic Torch, Olympic Light, Olympic Eye, and Olympic Sun are all names for an important marketing promotion and symbol of the Olympic Games. ... Helene Bertha Amalie Leni Riefenstahl (August 22, 1902 – September 8, 2003) was a German film director, dancer and actress, and widely noted for her aesthetics and advances in film technique. ... The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, were held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. ...

If a torch is made of sulfur mixed with lime, the fire will not diminish after being plunged into water. Such torches were used by the ancient Romans. This article is about the chemical element. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This is a list of topics related to ancient Rome that aims to include aspects of both the ancient Roman Republic and Roman Empire. ...

An unlit torch as used for fire breathing.

Juggling torches are often used as a prop in toss juggling: they can be flipped into the air in an end-over-end motion while being juggled, in the same manner as juggling clubs or juggling knives, but because of their sound and 'trail of flame', they can appear much more impressive to audiences. To a skilled juggler, there is only a slight chance of being burned, but they are still dangerous. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 1147 KB) Summary A simple fire breathing torch. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 1147 KB) Summary A simple fire breathing torch. ... Fire breathing is the act of creating a large flame by spraying, with ones breath, a flammable liquid upon an open flame. ... Torch Juggling Torches are juggling props used in many toss juggling routines. ... Toss juggling is the form of juggling which is most recognisable as juggling. Objects, typically balls, clubs or rings, are repeatedly thrown and caught in a variety of different patterns and styles. ... A set of juggling clubs This article focuses on one aspect of toss juggling. ...

Symbolism

A tiki torch

The torch is a common emblem of both enlightenment and hope. Thus the Statue of Liberty, actually "Liberty Enlightening the World", lifts her torch. Crossed reversed torches were signs of mourning that appear on Greek and Roman funerary monuments--a torch pointed downwards symbolizes death, while a torch held up symbolizes life, truth and the regenerative power of flame. The torch was also a symbol used by the British Conservative Party. Actually is also symbol of other political parties, like the Malta Labour Party. Rather unusually, these Angels wear white hart (deer) badges, with the personal emblem of King Richard II of England, who commissioned this, the Wilton diptych, about 1400. ... For other monuments to freedom, see Monument of Liberty. ... The Conservative Party, officially though less commonly known as the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a political party in the United Kingdom. ... The Malta Labour Party (MLP, Maltese: ) is one of two major contemporary political parties in Malta, along with the Nationalist Party. ...

Uses in the Roman Catholic liturgy

Torch seller, tacuinum sanitatis casanatensis (XIV century)

In former times, liturgical torches were carried in Eucharistic processions simply to give light. The Church eventually adopted their use for Solemn High Masses. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1000x1107, 311 KB) Tacuina sanitatis (XIV century) العربية | Česky | Deutsch | English | Ελληνικά | Español | فارسی | Français | עברית | Indonesian | Italiano | 日本語 | 한국어 | Magyar | Nederlands | Polski | Português | Românǎ | Русский | Slovenščina | Српски | Sunda | 简体中文 | 正體中文 | Türkçe | Русский | Українська +/- File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1000x1107, 311 KB) Tacuina sanitatis (XIV century) العربية | Česky | Deutsch | English | Ελληνικά | Español | فارسی | Français | עברית | Indonesian | Italiano | 日本語 | 한국어 | Magyar | Nederlands | Polski | Português | Românǎ | Русский | Slovenščina | Српски | Sunda | 简体中文 | 正體中文 | Türkçe | Русский | Українська +/- File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this... The Tacuinum (sometimes Taccuinum) Sanitatis is a medieval handbook on wellness, based on the Taqwin al‑sihha (Tables of Health), an Arab medical treatise by Ibn Butlan; it exists in several variant Latin versions, the manuscripts of which are profusely illustrated. ...

According to Adrian Fortescue ("The Mass: A Study of the Roman Liturgy [1912]"), the more correct form of liturgical torches are non-freestanding (i.e. cannot stand up on their own). However, today, even in the Vatican, freestanding, tall candles in ornate candle-stick holders have replaced the former type. The torches are carried by torchbearers, who enter at the Sanctus and leave after Communion.

Anglicans of the High Church and some Lutherans use torches in some of their liturgical celebrations as well. The term Anglican describes those people and churches following the religious traditions of the Church of England, especially following the Reformation. ... High Church relates to ecclesiology and liturgy in Christian theology and practice. ... The Lutheran movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity by the original definition. ...

Blowtorches and similar

In construction usage, a torch is a small hand-held burner which makes a hot flame, usually fueled by oxygen and either acetylene or propane, that is used for either cutting or welding metals, particularly iron and steel. For example, blowtorch, cutting torch, or welding torch. For more information, see gas welding. This article is about the chemical element and its most stable form, or dioxygen. ... Acetylene (systematic name: ethyne) is a hydrocarbon belonging to the group of alkynes. ... Propane is a three-carbon alkane, normally a gas, but compressible to a liquid that is transportable. ... Welding is a fabrication process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, by causing coalescence. ... General Name, symbol, number iron, Fe, 26 Chemical series transition metals Group, period, block 8, 4, d Appearance lustrous metallic with a grayish tinge Standard atomic weight 55. ... For other uses, see Steel (disambiguation). ... The word blowtorch can mean:- A cutting torch used for cutting metal. ... a cutting torch is a device that focuses an intense flame causing high heat and used to cut metal. ... ... Oxy-Fuel Welding is a welding process commonly called Oxy-Acetylene Welding, since acetylene is the predominant choice for a fuel, or often simply Gas welding. ...

See also

• List of light sources

A Common Household Light bulb This is a list of sources of light, including both natural and artificial sources, and both processes and devices. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Torch

• Picture of non-freestanding torches Antique Liturgical Torches in Procession
• Picture of non-freestanding torches Antique Liturgical Torches in Procession

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