Thanksgiving is a special day marked by the reunion of families and friends. In the United States, the occasion is observed fourth Thursday of the month of November, while in Canada, its observance comes second Monday every October.

As a special occasion, Thanksgiving is a time when homeowners decorate the house, particularly the dining room to further boost the ambiance for the graceful Thanksgiving meal. Candles can complete the atmosphere, adding subdued lighting to the festivities and providing the Thanksgiving meal with a touch of the romantic.

You can find candles made today to light your table in a variety of types. Pillar candles in various holiday related colors such as white, dark red, dark orange, brown and other neutral hued colors would complete the setting. Many of the candles are also scented in the flavors of the holiday. Pumpkin is my personal favorite. You can also find novelty candles in shapes such as leaves and acorns, pumpkins and small figurals in the shapes of pilgrims and turkeys.

New candles are all great candles to be lit to add some atmosphere to your table. However, if you think like I do, there's another type of candle to consider purely for decorative purposes -- vintage novelty candles made by the Gurley Novelty Co.

Specifically designed and manufactured by famous candle maker Franklin Gurley under the names Tavern Candle and Gurley Novelty, the holiday novelty candles first entered the market in the 1930s. The candles were actually a by-product of the oil refining process.

Oil companies wanted to use up the excesss paraffin that resulted and so th company that is known today as Exxon Mobile hired Franklin Gurley to design candles. Gurley made candles for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. Some of the different shapes for Thanksgiving include pilgrims, Indians, the Mayflower and, of course, turkeys!

Many of these candles have never been lit which is why collectors are still able to find them today, and naturally you won't want to light them either, but they will definitely add a whimsical touch to your table.