Candlemas is an ancient festival that marks the midpoint of winter, halfway between the shortest day and the spring equinox. In pre-Christian times, this day was known as ‘Feast of Lights’ and celebrated the increase in strength of the life-giving sun as winter turned to spring.
In Christian faith, Candlemas is a traditional festival which commemorates the ritual purification of Mary, forty days after the birth of her son Jesus. The day also marks the ritual presentation of the baby Jesus to God in the Temple at Jerusalem.
Traditionally the season of Christmas, which includes the celebration of the visit of the wise men to the child at Epiphany, lasts for forty days and ends with the Feast of Candlemas on 2nd February. Any Christmas decorations not taken down by Twelfth Night (January 5th) were left up until Candlemas Day and then taken down.
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andlemas was also when all the candles that would be used during the coming year, were brought into church and blessed. Candles were important, not only as a source of light, but people also believed they gave protection against plague, illness and even evil spirits. On Candlemas night, many people would place lit candles in their windows at home. Some believed that Candlemas predicted the weather for the rest of the winter. For others, different superstitions surrounded this festival. For instance, some people believed that if a candle drips on one side when carried in church on Candlemas, this denotes a death of a family member during the year.
If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Come winter, have another flight;
If Candlemas bring clouds and rain,
Go winter, and come not again.
