Ben Carter
Candlemas, also known as the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ, is a Christian feast day commemorating the presentation of Jesus at the Temple by Joseph and Mary. It is celebrated on 2 February with lighted candles, which are blessed by clergy and used for the rest of the year. The festival is a Christian adaptation of a pre-Christian festival of light, marking the midpoint of winter, and is also the origin of the modern American festival of Groundhog Day.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 2 February |
| Candles | All candles to be used in the church for the coming year are blessed. The faithful are invited to bring their own candles to be blessed and used in the home for prayer throughout the year. |
| Symbolism | Candles are a symbol of Jesus Christ, referred to as the Light of the World. |
| History | The festival originated as a Pagan festival of light, marking the midpoint of winter. |
| Etymology | The word Candlemas derives from "candela" meaning candle. |
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What You'll Learn
- Candlemas is a Christian festival celebrated on 2 February
- It commemorates the presentation of Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem
- It is also known as the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary
- Candles are blessed in church and lit at home to ward off evil and death
- The festival has its origins in pre-Christian Paganism
Candlemas is a Christian festival celebrated on 2 February
Candlemas, a Christian festival celebrated on 2 February, is also known as the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ, the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or the Feast of the Holy Encounter. It commemorates the presentation of Jesus at the Temple of Jerusalem by Joseph and Mary, 40 days after his birth, as told in Luke 2:22–40.
The festival was formerly known in the Roman Catholic Church as the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary and is now known as the Presentation of the Lord. In the Anglican church, it is called the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, and in the Greek church, it is called Hypapante (Meeting), referring to Jesus' meeting with Simeon and the prophet Anna.
The earliest reference to the festival is from Jerusalem in the late 4th century, when the Western pilgrim Etheria attended its celebration on February 14, 40 days after Epiphany. By the middle of the 5th century, the custom of observing the festival with lighted candles had been introduced, and the name Candlemas, derived from 'candela' meaning candle, was coined. In some churches, a candlelight procession takes place, and in others, people stand in their pews holding their lit candles. In the Philippines, Our Lady of Candles is the patroness of the Western Visayas region, and her feast is observed from 1 to 3 February, with 2 February as the actual feast day.
Candlemas is a significant day for farmers, as it marks the end of winter and the return of light. Various proverbs and traditions are associated with the festival, such as the old English song: "If Candlemas be fair and bright, Come, Winter, have another flight. If Candlemas brings clouds and rain, Go, Winter, and come not again."
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It commemorates the presentation of Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem
Candlemas, also known as the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ, is a Christian feast day commemorating the presentation of Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem by Joseph and Mary. It is celebrated forty days after Christmas, on 2 February, and marks the return of light, symbolising protection and prosperity. The feast was first observed in the Eastern Church as "The Encounter" and began to be observed in the West in the sixth century.
The presentation of Jesus at the Temple is described in the second chapter of the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament. Mary and Joseph went to the Temple to make an offering in Thanksgiving to God, recognising that their child was a gift from God. According to Jewish law, Mary was required to attend a ceremony of ritual purification forty days after giving birth to a boy. This ceremony is also known as the purification rite, combined with the Jewish ceremony of the redemption of the firstborn.
During Candlemas, Christians take candles to their local church to be blessed, and these blessed candles serve as a symbol of Jesus Christ, referred to as the "Light of the World". The blessing and procession of candles reflect Simeon's proclamation of "a light for revelation to the Gentiles", echoing Isaiah 49:6 in the second of the "servant of the Lord" oracles. In addition to the procession of candles, some Christians also eat pancakes or tamales with hot chocolate during Candlemas celebrations.
The feast concludes the celebration of the Nativity and, with the offerings of the Virgin Mother and the prophecy of Simeon, points towards Easter. Simeon prophesied that Jesus's death would bring great sorrow to Mary and that through Jesus, the non-Jewish world would come to know God's salvation. The story also highlights the importance of prayer and our relationship with God, built through praise and prayer.
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It is also known as the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary
Candlemas, also known as the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a Christian feast day commemorating the presentation of Jesus at the Temple by Joseph and Mary. The feast falls on February 2, which is traditionally the 40th day of and the conclusion of the Christmas-Epiphany season.
The festival was formerly known in the Roman Catholic Church as the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary and is now known as the Presentation of the Lord. In the Anglican Church, it is called the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, while in the Greek Church, it is referred to as Hypapante (Meeting), in reference to Jesus' meeting in the Temple with the aged Simeon and the prophet Anna.
The earliest reference to the festival is from Jerusalem in the late 4th century, where the Western pilgrim Etheria attended its celebration on February 14, 40 days after Epiphany (then celebrated as Christ's birthday). It soon spread to other Eastern cities, and in 542 Justinian I decreed that its date should be moved to February 2 (40 days after Christmas). By the middle of the 5th century, the custom of observing the festival with lighted candles had been introduced, and the name Candlemas ("candle mass") was derived from this custom.
During the feast, the priest offers five prescribed orations before blessing beeswax candles by sprinkling and incensing them. The candles are then distributed while the Canticle of Simeon is sung, with the antiphon "Lumen ad revelationem gentium et gloriam plebis tuæ Israel" ("A Light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel") repeated after every verse.
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Candles are blessed in church and lit at home to ward off evil and death
Candlemas, also known as the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ, is a Christian feast day commemorating the presentation of Jesus Christ at the Temple of Jerusalem by Joseph and Mary. It is celebrated on 2 February, traditionally marking the conclusion of the Christmas-Epiphany season.
The festival was formerly known in the Roman Catholic Church as the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary and is now known as the Presentation of the Lord. In the Anglican church, it is called the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, and in the Greek church, it is referred to as Hypapante (Meeting).
Candlemas derives from the word 'candela', meaning candle, and is thus also known as the festival of light. The custom of observing the festival with lighted candles was introduced in the 5th century, and the name Candlemas developed from this tradition. As part of the festival, Christians take their candles to their local church, where they are blessed and then used for the rest of the year. These blessed candles represent Jesus Christ, referred to as the Light of the World, and are lit at home during prayer and on special occasions.
The candles are also believed to ward off evil and death, assuring prosperity. The soft glow of candlelight serves as a reminder of the Christmas celebration, when the "true light who was coming into the world" (John 1:9) dispelled the darkness of sin. This light symbolises hope during the dark days of winter, reflecting the verse, "the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:5).
In some places, the Candlemas festivities include a procession where people carry a statue of Nuestra Señora de Candelaria (Our Lady of the Light) to the church, where a Mass is celebrated. In the countryside, families burn their dried Christmas trees on this day as a conclusion to the holiday season.
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The festival has its origins in pre-Christian Paganism
Candlemas, also known as the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ, is a Christian feast day commemorating the presentation of Jesus Christ at the Temple by Joseph and Mary. It falls on February 2, which is traditionally the 40th day of and the conclusion of the Christmas-Epiphany season.
Imbolc was traditionally aligned with the first day of spring and the idea of rebirth. The earliest mentions of Imbolc in Irish literature were found in the 10th century. The poetry from this time relates the holiday to ewe's milk, with the implication of purification. It has been speculated that this ritual stems from the breeding cycle of sheep and the beginning of lactation.
Celebrants of Imbolc would prepare for a visit from Brigid by crafting an effigy of the goddess from bundles of oats and rushes. The effigy was dressed and placed in a basket overnight. The day of Imbolc was celebrated with rituals including burning lamps and lighting bonfires in tribute to Brigid. Over the centuries, Brigid was adopted into Christianity as St. Brigid.
Candlemas may be a Christian adaptation of the Roman holiday Februalia, a purification and cleansing celebration.
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Frequently asked questions
Candlemas is celebrated on the 2nd of February and is also known as the festival of light. On this day, Christians take all the candles they will use for the year to their local church to be blessed. They then light these candles at home. So, the answer depends on how many candles each person brings to church.
Candlemas, or the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ, is a Christian feast day commemorating the presentation of Jesus at the Temple by Joseph and Mary. It also commemorates the ritual purification of Mary 40 days after giving birth to Jesus.
The name Candlemas is derived from the custom of observing the festival with lighted candles. The word comes from 'candela' meaning candle.
Candlemas draws its elements from pre-Christian Paganism. In ancient times, it was a festival of light that marked the midpoint of winter, halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. People lit candles to ward off evil spirits. In 494, Pope Gelasius I banned the festival of Lupercalia and replaced it with Candlemas processions and the blessing of candles in churches.
