How long do you leave your Christmas decorations up for? Do you have people jibing about how it’s bad luck to leave them up past Twelfth Night? Scoffing at how tradition dictates that the decorations must all come down by the end of the first week in January?
Well, you can laugh along with them and, with a smirk, say that, in fact, you are being far more traditional and in keeping with the historical calendar, if you left your decorations up until the first week of February.
The day that the decorations would finally be taken down, in the medieval world, would have been Candlemas: the Second of February. This is a celebration that holds a rich tapestry of meanings, traditions, and historical significance. Known formally as the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple and the Purification of the Blessed Virgin, it marks an important milestone in the Christian calendar and offers a fascinating glimpse into the customs of medieval life.
Biblical Origins and Religious Significance
Candlemas commemorates two key events from the Gospel of Luke: the presentation of the infant Jesus at the temple in Bethlehem and the purification of Mary, following Jewish law. This dual celebration, occurring forty days after Christmas, intertwines themes of dedication, light, and prophecy. As Simeon blesses the Christ child, he proclaims Jesus as “A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.” This imagery of light became central to the festival.
Traditionally, Candlemas marked the end of the extended Christmas season in the Church, which began with the Nativity and included Epiphany. While modern customs often pack away Christmas festivities by early January, in earlier times, the season of celebration lingered until this February feast.
The Role of Candles
Candles played a pivotal role in Candlemas observances. Churches blessed candles in special ceremonies, and these blessed lights symbolised Christ as the “Light of the World.” Processions with candles illuminated the dark days of winter and served as a poignant reminder of hope and guidance. The lighting and extinguishing of these candles also reflected the bittersweet nature of the feast: looking back to the joy of Christmas while foreshadowing the sorrow of the crucifixion.
Medieval Customs and Community Celebrations
During the 15th and 16th centuries, craft guilds in cities would organise grand processions. Members paraded through the streets bearing candles, often accompanied by pageants and other communal festivities. Some towns even hosted municipal feasts to mark the occasion, creating a shared sense of purpose and celebration.
However, the Reformation brought significant changes. Practices like blessing candles and processions were deemed superstitious by Protestant reformers. In 1548, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer instructed that Candlemas observances be curtailed, signalling a shift in religious and cultural priorities.
Weather Lore and Agricultural Markers
Candlemas also holds a place in weather folklore. An old rhyme predicts:
If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Come winter, have another flight;
If Candlemas bring clouds and rain,
Go winter, and come not again.
This belief reflects the festival’s timing at the midpoint of winter, when communities could assess their remaining food stores and prepare for the lean weeks ahead. Farmers often used Candlemas as a fiscal milestone, deciding whether to extend or terminate employment contracts for the coming year.
Connections to Pagan Roots and Modern Traditions
Many elements of Candlemas echo older pagan customs tied to the turning of the seasons. The use of fire and light parallels ancient celebrations of the lengthening days, as does the emphasis on renewal and preparation for spring. In France and Belgium, Candlemas is marked by the making of crêpes, their round, golden shapes symbolising the sun—a nod to these ancient associations.
Interestingly, Candlemas also shares a lineage with Groundhog Day, rooted in German traditions. According to folklore, if the day was sunny enough for a hedgehog to see its shadow, winter would persist.
The End of the Christmas Season
For those who kept Christmas decorations up through Twelfth Night and Epiphany, Candlemas was the final deadline to take them down. With the festive season officially over, the focus shifted towards Lent, a time of fasting and reflection. For medieval communities, this often coincided with rationing dwindling food supplies until the first fresh growth of spring.
Candlemas Today
While its prominence has waned in many modern contexts, Candlemas remains a day of quiet beauty and reflection in the liturgical calendar. It reminds us of the enduring power of light in darkness, the cyclical nature of the seasons, and the deep cultural connections between faith, tradition, and community.
Whether through the glow of a candle, the warmth of a shared meal, or the hopeful anticipation of spring, Candlemas continues to light the way forward, bridging the past with the present.
Here at the Weald & Downland Living Museum, we invite you to step into the traditional rhythms of the Ritual Year and discover the charm of Candlemas. Falling midway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, Candlemas has long been a time for reflection, renewal, and looking ahead to the promise of spring.
Through our collection of historic buildings, spanning from the Anglo-Saxon period to the Victorian era, we delve into how people of the past observed this significant day, rooted in customs that reflect both sacred and seasonal traditions.
Candlemas was traditionally a time for blessing candles to bring light and hope for the year ahead, marking the gradual retreat of winter’s darkness. At the museum, you can experience this seasonal turning point firsthand. Visit Winkhurst Kitchen to see seasonal dishes being prepared and learn how households marked the day with rituals celebrating the coming of longer, brighter days.
As you explore the museum, you’ll see how daily life was shaped by the changing seasons, with preparations in Bayleaf farmhouse and demonstrations of traditional household tasks evoking the simple yet meaningful routines of the past.
A visit during Candlemas is a rare opportunity to immerse yourself in the enduring rhythms of the year, reconnecting with traditions that bring warmth and inspiration to the present day.
Find out more about this special day and how you can join in by visiting our What’s On page!
