Candlemas, 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, is a Christian feast day commemorating the presentation of Jesus at the Temple. This observance is based on the account found in
Luke 2:22–40.
According to tradition,
Candlemas falls on
February 2nd, which is
traditionally the 40th day after Christmas and marks the conclusion of the
Christmas – Epiphany season. Here are the key aspects of
Candlemas:
- Presentation of Jesus: The feast commemorates the moment when Mary and Joseph brought the infant Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem for the purpose of purification and to present Him to God as her firstborn son.
- Purification of Mary: Following Jewish law, a woman was to be purified after childbirth. Mary’s purification took place 40 days after Jesus’ birth, and this event is central to the Candlemas celebration.
- Blessing of Candles: On Candlemas, many Christians (especially Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and some mainline Protestant denominations) take their candles to their local church, where they are blessed. These blessed candles serve as a symbol of Jesus Christ, who is often referred to as the Light of the World.
Historically, some Christian countries also used Candlemas as the time to remove Christmas decorations after the festive season 12. It is a day of both solemnity and joy, commemorating significant events in the life of Jesus and His family.