What is Candlemas and how can you create a Candlemas Tradition in your family?
I love it when many different rituals converge on one celebratory day. Suddenly the original cloth becomes beautifully clear. The seemingly disparate threads of tradition are woven back together. Such is the case with February 2. Known as Mid-Winter in many Anglo-Saxon countries; individual yarns have names such as Imbolc, the Feast of Saint Brigid, […]
The Presentation in the Temple in a 15th-century English Book of Hours (BL Harley 2915, f. 35) February 2 is Candlemas, the Feast of the Purification, so here's a medieval Candlemas carol. Revertere, revertere, The queen of bliss and of beauty. Behold what life that we run in, Frail to fall and ever like to sin Through our enemy's enticing; Therefore we sing and cry to thee: Revertere, revertere, The queen of bliss and of beauty. Come hither, Lady, fairest flower, And keep us, Lady, from dolour; Defend us, Lady, and be our succour, For we cease not to call to thee: Revertere, revertere, The queen of bliss and of beauty. Turn our life, Lady, to God's lust, [pleasure] Sin to flee and fleshly lust, For, after him, in thee we trust To keep us from adversity. Revertere, revertere, The queen of bliss and of beauty. This holy day of Purification To the temple thou bare our salvation, Jesu Christ, thine own sweet Son, To whom therefore now sing we: Revertere, revertere, The queen of bliss and of beauty. Farewell, Christmas fair and free! Farewell, New Year's Day with thee! Farewell, the holy Epiphany! And to Mary now sing we: Revertere, revertere, The queen of bliss and of beauty. This is an exceptionally elegant and delicate carol - I particularly like verse 2, with each interjected 'Lady'. Candlemas is a feast with several avenues of rich imagery for a poet or a preacher to explore, and unlike, say, Ælfric, who concentrates on the themes of offering and of light ('though some people cannot sing, they can nevertheless bear the light in their hands; for on this day was the true Light, Christ, borne to the temple...'), this poem focuses on the role of Mary, 'Lady, fairest flower', 'queen of bliss' (a title also associated with Candlemas in the medieval carol 'Welcome, Yule'). The imploring refrain 'Revertere' comes from the Song of Songs, 6:13: 'Return, return, O Shulamite; return, return, that we may look upon thee' (revertere, revertere, Sulamitis, revertere, revertere, ut intueamur te). This is a text used on the Feast of the Assumption, but it feels appropriate for Candlemas too: the appeal 'return, turn back' conjures up an image of the lady in movement - as, at the Assumption, moving towards heaven - and Candlemas is a processional kind of feast, about coming to the temple, and generally celebrated with a liturgical procession. (I posted a description of an English liturgical procession at Candlemas, from the tenth century, here.) The theme 'revertere' also resonates with the idea that at Candlemas we cast a final look back towards Christmas, as we at last bid it farewell. This poem is very different in spirit from the cheery Candlemas carol I posted earlier in January, where Christmas says 'good day!', but it too addresses Christmas, the New Year, the Epiphany, and directs our thoughts back to them: 'turn back, that we may look upon thee' one more time. But there's a glance forward too: the collocation 'bliss and beauty' connotes spring, which is just beginning to peep out in February as the first snowdrops appear. Candlemas is in part a festival of early spring, and its focus on light appeals to the longing for winter to be over, for just a hint of returning life, in the dark time of the year. The Presentation in a C14th English Book of Hours (BL Egerton 2781, f. 85v) This carol survives in Bodleian Library MS. Eng. poet. e. I, a fifteenth-century manuscript of English poems and carols which also contains versions of 'This endris night', 'Of a rose, a lovely rose', 'Now is the twelfth day icome', 'Sing we Yule til Candlemas', 'In Bethlehem that fair city', and 'Under a tree, in sporting me'. And that's just (some of) the Christmas carols; see the full list here. This is the text as edited in Richard Greene, A Selection of English Carols (Oxford, 1962), p. 95. Revertere, revertere, The quene of blysse and of beaute. Behold what lyfe that we ryne ine, Frayl to fale and ever lyke to syne Thorow owr enmys entysyng; Therfor we syng and cry to the: Revertere, revertere, The quene of blysse and of beaute. Come hyder, Lady, fayryst floure, And kepe us, Lady, from doloure; Defend us, Lady, and be owr socoure, For we cease not to cal to the: Revertere, revertere, The quene of blysse and of beaute. Torne owr lyfe, Lady, to Goddys luste, Syne to fle and fleschly luste, For aftur hym in the we trust To kep us frome adversyte. Revertere, revertere, The quene of blysse and of beaute. Thys holy day of Puryfycacyon To the temple thou bare owr salvacyon, Jhesu Cryst, thin own swet Sone, To whome therfor now syng we: Revertere, revertere, The quene of blysse and of beaute. Farwell, Crystmas fayer and fre! Farwell, Newers Day with the! Farwell, the holy Epyphane! And to Mary now syng we: Revertere, revertere, The quene of blysse and of beaute. The remains of a medieval wall-painting of the Presentation (Chalgrove, Oxfordshire) One or two more depictions of the Presentation which I particularly like - here the child clings to his mother: (BL Yates Thompson 13, f.98v) These scenes usually contain Joseph with his offering of birds, but in keeping with the liturgical celebration of the feast, one of the figures is also often shown holding a candle, as in this 14th-century Breviary (made in Norwich): (BL Stowe 12, f. 242v) And, very clearly, in this beautiful scene from an early 13th-century English Psalter: (BL Royal 1 D X, f. 2v)
French Candlemas is a religious holiday that's celebrated every year on February 2 with the making (and consumption) of plenty of crêpes.
February 1st or February 2nd ?? It’s hard to pin down exactly when we are supposed to celebrate this mid-winter festival which revolves around this fascinating woman. Who was she really &am…
Rural celebrations of the Candlemas Day in Poland show remnants of old-Slavic protective rituals conducted with use of a gromnica (the so-called ‘thunder candle’). The Candlemas Day is celebrated o…
Candlemas articulates the necessary future of this beautiful Light coming into the world. Our celebrations so far have dwelt on the joyful implications of the Son of God’s arrival, our redemp…
This time of year has been celebrated for centuries in many ways in many places. Candlemas refers to the Christian festival, marking 40 days after the birth of Christ. It is a holiday of purification, with the candles representing the purifying nature of light, both spiritually and physically. It is also the ritual end to the Christmas season, and often Christmas greenery are burned on this day, and holiday decorations are put away.
If you follow the pagan holiday wheel, then you know that Imbolc is coming up on February 2nd (or July 31st if you're in the Southern hemisphere). Imbolc is one of the least known pagan
Imbolc ideas from starsignstyle.com, not to be republished without permission...Imbolc holds the spirit of hope, around February 1st.Whether you're celebrating Lunar New Year or adore marking the Pagan Imbolc Sabbat, there's bound to be so much you'r
Today is the final "peak" arising from the liturgical cycle of Advent/Christmas/Epiphany. Today, called in the traditional way and according to the older Roman calendar the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Holy Church would cease to sing the Marian antiphon associated with Chri
On Candlemas Day, many of the faithful bring candles to their churches to be blessed.
Imbolc bringer of Spring is the ancient Celtic celebration between winter and summer. Falling on the 2nd February it is also known as Candlemas. It has a fascinating history. Did you know? Brigid the Goddess of fire, and the Christian, St Brigit both have the lighting of candles in their ceremonies.
**This blog is reader supported, and some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if ...
Advent Advent is observed the four Sundays that lead up to Christmas. If you aren’t christian, you may choose for your advent to lead up to Hannukah, Yule, Solstice, etc. Advent means “anticipation” so you might use this time to meditate on the season and its meaning to you. Advent celebrates the bringing of light...
The midpoint of winter is the halfway mark between the Winter Solstice and the Spring…
Marianne Stokes ‘Candlemas Day’ (detail modified) circa 1901 Marianne Stokes [Austrian Painter, 1855-1927] Tempera on mahogany panel
This guide to Seasonal Festivals (aka Waldorf Festivals) covers everything from Michaelmas to Candlemas to the Advent Spiral to May Day to St. John's Tide and everything in between.
On February 2, forty days after Christmas, the Latin Rite celebrates the feast of the Purification. It is also called Candlemas because on this day Christ, the Light of the World, entered the holy …
La Chandeleur, also known as Candlemas, is a French holiday celebrated on February 2nd. It marks the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. One of the main traditions of this holiday is eating crêpes. I love celebrating this tradition with my students! Let's dive into the
Candle, candle, burning bright, Fill us with your holy light. May the flame of joy and love Glow now in our hearts. ...No need for many words or explanations today. How would you describe a day such as Candlemas to a very young child? You don't. They make of it what they will. They gaze into candlelight.. They take it all in. The evolution of an earthen candle... Dig a small, deep hole... Fill with melted beeswax or parafin Watch it bubble and sizzle... ...And eventually calm down:) Place a candle wick in the center and hold it there....and wait. and wait. Trim the wick and watch them glow.. (spoons work well for digging!) Dig around the candle once hardened and remove...you may even recognize a heart shape...or something else wonderful:) This little light of mine... ...I'm going to let it shine!
Si vous avez bien suivi vos cours de Géographie de 5ème (avant que "les enjeux du développement durable" ne soient ajoutés au programme), vous saurez certainement différencier les zones climatiques du...
If you follow the pagan holiday wheel, then you know that Imbolc is coming up on February 2nd (or July 31st if you're in the Southern hemisphere). Imbolc is one of the least known pagan
This Brigid's Cross tutorial shows you how to do an easy straw cross for St Brigid's feast day or Candlemas decorations.
Présentation au Temple - Bellini I am late again to tell you how Candle mas went on at The Little Family's. That was on the second of February and we are already on the fifth. Time flies... Of course, as almost all festivities, Candlemas is linked with a religious festival for The Little Family. It is before and foremost the day where we celebrate the Presentation of the Lord to the Temple and where the Holy Family meets Anne, the Prophetess and the Simeon the Elder. With this wonderful prayer, the "Nunc Dimittis: Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine, secundum verbum tuum in pace: Quia viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum Quod parasti ante faciem omnium populorum: Lumen ad revelationem gentium, et gloriam plebis tuae Israel. that is in the Book of Common Prayers: Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; To be a light to lighten the Gentiles and to be the glory of thy people Israel. I have changed the words a little in French so that we end our prayer in common, each evening by an amended "Nunc dimittis" where we ask the Lord to let us sleep in peace and wake us up on the morrow in His joy, light and love. The true words seemed too radical for The Girls who though they were praying for their death during the night! This is also our last winter festival of lights. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Candlemas service begins with the lighting of candles with which we come back home. Therefore, if we go back in time, we started Advent time with the first candle of Advent on the first Sunday, went on with one more candle on each Sunday, and special festivals on the eighth and the thirteenth of December. Christmas and Epiphany are the celebrations of Christ, Light for His people and the Nations. And here is Candlemas. Friends have told me that the second of February is Saint Bridget or Brigit, and mentioned that it is considered in Britain as the first day of Spring - mentioning that Dora Saint writes in one of her Fairacre volumes that Miss Read and Miss Clare may go out for a walk after tea for the first time of the year. I felt urged by so much "gentle" reading to take "Over the Gate" and to dip into it.Per haps not the best book to re-start with but one that was close enough to be reached! I remember that Mother used to say that when she was at university in Bordeaux, one year, the "gentle" streets of the suburb where the campus lies and where she had a room at a convent-cum-bedsits-for-girl-students, were smelling of mimosa and pancakes. It is is too early for mimosas at our place, which stands about a hundred kilometres North-East of Bordeaux, even less for daffodils. But we saw snowdrops and winter jasmine, and the spiky leaaves of irises, daffodils, the round, velvety ones of violets, and the white crown-like bouquets of the laurustinus. Birds are singing again earlier in the morning and later in the evening, the collar doves are back, and while I type I hear the cantankerous and impertinent jay chattering. We have been blessed with sunshine and mild weather these past days. All this would have me agree with Dora Saint's readers that Spring is here! And in the evening, came the splendid time of making pancakes together. We had the family recipy with rhum and vanilla sugar - no crèpes suzette for us, that would be with too much alcohol! The preparation rested and then, when we came ack from mass, we were ready to toss the pancakes in the air with the special frying pan we use to make them thin and wide. When you toss them, you have to hold a coin in your other hand in order to be rich all year long. In older time, the coin should be a gold one; today, it is rather difficult to find a gold euro (!), so we went with the standard one. Vegetable soup to begin with and then warm pancakes with jam - raspeberry, strawberry, apricot - or honey or sugar either brown or plain white. This was a great dinner for The Girls who laughed and joked and were happy as larks of their day! Next week is Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, which begins Lent. Indeed, indeed, Spring is on its way! https://youtu.be/nM8s36LE5Fc Nunc Dimittis Purcell - Evening service in G minor - Z 231
If you haven’t heard of the gromnice (thunder candles) yet, please read this article first. In the Polish rural beliefs and legends connected to the wintertime the Holy Mother is often descri…
Seven days from today is the feast of St Dunstan (d.988), perhaps the greatest Anglo-Saxon Archbishop of Canterbury. At the beginning of the year I did one of those online 'get a patron saint for the year' random generators (this one) and got St Dunstan, which I thought was pretty lucky, considering there's so many hundreds of saints to choose from and only about five sainted medieval Archbishops of Canterbury (pretty much my favourite category of saint). So in preparation for his feast-day I'm going to post a number of stories about St Dunstan which I've run across in the course of my ever-growing obsession with tenth and eleventh-century Canterbury. Dunstan in British Library, Royal 10 A XIII, f.2v 1: Dunstan's birth and the Candlemas Miracle The first biography of Dunstan was written within ten years of his death by someone known only as 'B'; about a century later, two accounts of Dunstan's life were written by the Canterbury monks Osbern and Eadmer. Eadmer begins his Life of Dunstan by describing how Dunstan "came forth into this spacious world all the more nobly because while he was still closely constrained within his mother’s womb it was indicated by a heavenly miracle that through him a brilliant light would arise in the world." This is how: Dunstan was born around the year 910 (or a little earlier), to parents living near Glastonbury in Somerset. While his mother Cynethrith was pregnant with him, she and his father, Heorstan, went to church to celebrate Candlemas, the Feast of the Purification. As I’ve mentioned before, we have some interesting evidence about how the Anglo-Saxons celebrated Candlemas, and this story seems to confirm it. They were in the church at Glastonbury (which Eadmer notes was made of wood, unusually for Saxon churches) and had taken with them the candles which were to be lit as part of the liturgy for the day. And now the office of the mass began to be celebrated and the huge crowd which was brilliantly lit up by a great number of candles was intent on praising the Lord in the house of God. Then suddenly all at once, though the sky remained serene, to the amazement of everyone all the candles went out. They all looked at each other and they were struck with great fear because of this unprecedented and strange event. But while they stood there thunderstruck, knowing not what to think for certain about such an event, with their faces turned upwards they beheld a tongue of fire descending from heaven and lighting the candle which Dunstan’s mother held in her hand. So those who earlier had been greatly stunned by their candles going out were now overwhelmed by greater amazement both by the flame shooting from the sky and by the lighting of the candle of the pregnant woman. And then one by one they approached the fire sent down from heaven and from it they regained the light that had been lost. A particularly excellent miracle! Shortly afterwards, Cynethrith gave birth to a son and he was named Dunstan, which Eadmer interprets in Latin as 'montanus lapis' - Old English dun 'hill, mountain' and stan 'stone'. (Other etymologies are available...) Quotations from Eadmer of Canterbury, Lives and Miracles of Saints Oda, Dunstan and Oswald, ed. and trans. Andrew J. Turner and Bernard J. Muir (Oxford, 2006), pp.51,3.
Can you feel it in the air? It’s the depths of winter, but there’s something stirring. Even as the snow is still coming down, the end of winter is in sight. Even here in Alaska, the birds have started singing. It’s Imbolc! Imbolc is the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox,
Feast of the Purification of Our Lady, the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple – Candlemas Day – 2 February Master of Saint Severin c 1490 Besides commemorating the Presentation of C…
