Is there any lore about Nordic ruins in Skyrim being perpetually lit? I realise one could argue that it's established lore now as it's in the game but you could also take the line that it was a development choice to make exploration a bit less onerous...

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Amongst_the_Draugr

Yeah, that the Draugr keep the candles lit seems a pretty good explanation. Although I'm not quite sure how they keep them going for thousands of years. Then again, given Candlehearth Hall has had a candle burning for centuries, perhaps candles in TES are made to last forever somehow, or knowledge to make perpetually burning candles exists.

It's magic, I don't have to explain [censored]

Thanks - I hadn't read that before. Interesting. So based on that, although it doesn't overtly confirm it, it would be reasonable to assume they keep the candles lit. It doesn't explain the absence of brooms though...

Magic!

Ok, I honestly don't know but it's whatever.

They use skeevers (dead is optional) as brooms, boom headcannon.

I know - one of the more powerful Draugr dragon shouts the dust away...mystery solved!