Among scattered groups in Unova, it is customary to light a Chandelure at funerals – with fire, not with souls – so that the spirit of the deceased can safely pass into the afterlife. According to this custom, the lit Chandelure can not interfere with the spirit's passage, for its flames had been adequately fueled through another source – and the presence of a captive Chandelure keeps other Chandelure and Lampent at bay, for they do not compete with one another for food.
This funerary custom is controversial, however, for there are many who believe that normal fire is insufficient to nourish Chandelure, or who do not understand the meaning of this custom at all. The fear of continued Chandelure hunger is a concern of theological debate, but most correctly hold that although a Chandelure can not be fully nourished on fire alone, it can satiate them for a long time. (A fact which Chandelure trainers, who face widespread ostracism to train these pokemon, often utilize by offering fire for their lifetimes in exchange for their soul after death.)
For those of other faiths, who do not understand this custom, imagination has often replaced its true purpose with lurid tales of dark rituals. These funerals are accused of being demonic rites, and their purpose is claimed to be to feed the souls of the dead to the Chandelure, so that these pokemon can fulfill the cult's mad ambitions and ultimately summon Giratina to ruin our world. Chandelure funerals today often include Chandelure only out of tradition, for they are held in strict secrecy from all but trusted friends and those of the same rite in order to prevent disruption from the protests of other faiths – and any pokemon seeking nourishment from these funerals will struggle mightily to find them.