What is Candlemas?
Candlemas is a Christian feast observed annually on February 2 that commemorates the biblical presentation of the infant Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem, 40 days after his birth. The festival is based on the account in Luke 2:22–38, when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple both to present him to God as their firstborn and for Mary’s ritual purification after childbirth, as required by Jewish law. At the Temple, an elderly man named Simeon held the infant Jesus and proclaimed he would be “a light for the Gentiles,” which is why this event became known as Candlemas—a feast centered on the blessing and lighting of candles as symbols of Christ as the “light of the world.”
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; in the Greek church it is called Hypapante (Meeting), in reference to Jesus’ meeting in the Temple with the aged Simeon and the prophet Anna. The feast marks the conclusion of the 40-day Christmas season and has historically been the day when Christmas decorations are taken down in many Christian traditions.
Origins & Lineage
The earliest reference to the festival is from Jerusalem, where in the late 4th century the Western pilgrim Etheria attended its celebration on February 14, 40 days after Epiphany (then celebrated as Christ’s birthday), and wrote of it in the Peregrinatio Etheriae. It soon spread to other Eastern cities, and in 542 Justinian I decreed that its date should be moved back 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 developed from this custom. The word derives from late Old English candelmæsse (from candle + mass), meaning feast of the purification of the Virgin Mary. In the Western church, Pope Sergius I (687–701) instituted the festival in Rome. Pope Gelasius I (492-496) is traditionally credited with establishing candlelight processions and, in some accounts, distributing pancakes or wafers to pilgrims.
The relationship between Candlemas and pre-Christian festivals remains contested among historians. Many people believe that some of Candlemas’ activities stem from pagan observances such as Imbolc, a Gaelic festival, or the Roman feast of Lupercalia; however, others have argued that there is too little evidence to shed light on Candlemas’ substitution for these festivals. What is clear is that Candlemas occurs at the cross-quarter day between the winter solstice and spring equinox—a time when many cultures historically marked the transition from winter to spring.
How It’s Practiced
In Catholic and Orthodox traditions, the day is marked with candlelit processions and masses, which also honor Mary’s ritual purification after childbirth. Candlemas is marked in many churches by the blessing of candles intended for use throughout the year, a rite in which parishioners may also present their own candles. These blessed candles are taken home as symbols of Christ’s presence and protection, and in some traditions are lit during storms or times of danger.
The central liturgical element is the procession. Many Christians (especially Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Evangelical-Lutherans, and Anglicans) take their candles to their local church, where they are blessed and then used for the rest of the year; for Christians, these blessed candles serve as a symbol of Jesus Christ, whom they refer to as the “Light of the World”. Simeon’s canticle, the Nunc Dimittis (“Now let your servant depart in peace”), is commonly sung or chanted during Candlemas liturgies.
Regional food traditions vary widely. It is traditional to eat crepes on Candlemas in some parts of Europe, such as France, where the round, golden pancakes symbolize the returning sun. Dressing and adoration of the Christ Child and family meals with tamales on Candlemas are an important Mexican tradition, often linked to whoever found the figurine in the Epiphany kings’ cake.
Candlemas Today
Candlemas remains an active feast day across Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran communities worldwide. While not a holy day of obligation in most Catholic jurisdictions, it is widely observed liturgically. In 1997, Pope John Paul II instituted World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life on Candlemas, linking the feast to religious vocations.
In popular culture, Candlemas is less known than its secular descendant: Groundhog Day. The German conclusion that if the sun appeared on Candlemas, a hedgehog would cast a shadow, making a “second winter,” was the origin of the modern American festival of Groundhog Day, as many of Pennsylvania’s early settlers were German. Weather prognostication has long been associated with Candlemas across Europe, with folk sayings predicting the remaining length of winter based on whether the day is sunny or cloudy.
Some spiritual seekers encounter Candlemas through its relationship with Imbolc (February 1), the Celtic cross-quarter festival honoring the goddess Brigid. Candlemas is the Christian holy day which falls on 2 February and is known in Irish as Lá Fhéile Muire na gCoinneal, ‘feast day of Mary of the Candles’. Contemporary pagans, Wiccans, and practitioners interested in Celtic spirituality often observe both holidays as part of a continuum of seasonal celebration around the return of light.
Common Misconceptions
Candlemas is not simply a pagan festival rebranded. While it falls near Imbolc and other European festivals marking winter’s midpoint, the Christian feast has its own distinct scriptural foundation in Luke 2 and developed independently in Jerusalem in the 4th century, predating most documented Celtic traditions. The overlap is geographic and seasonal, not necessarily causal.
Candlemas does not require candle-making. While blessed candles are central, the feast focuses on the liturgical act of blessing, procession, and the recognition of Christ as light. Participants typically bring store-bought candles to be blessed rather than crafting them.
It is not a minor or forgotten observance. In many global Christian communities—particularly in Latin America, Eastern Europe, and traditional Catholic regions—Candlemas remains a major feast with processions, communal meals, and cultural significance that rivals better-known holidays.
Candlemas and Imbolc are not interchangeable terms. Imbolc is a Gaelic festival on February 1 associated with the goddess (or saint) Brigid and the beginning of spring; Candlemas is a Christian feast on February 2 rooted in Jewish temple law and the light of Christ. They are distinct traditions that happen to fall on consecutive days.
How to Begin
If you wish to observe Candlemas as a Christian practitioner, attend Mass or a liturgical service on February 2 at a Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, or Lutheran parish. Many churches hold special candlelight processions before the Eucharist; call ahead to confirm times. Bring a candle (white, unscented tapers are traditional) to be blessed during the service, then use it at home during prayer, storms, or times when you wish to invoke the presence of light.
For those exploring the seasonal significance beyond denominational practice, consider Candlemas as a threshold moment: the last day of the Christmas cycle and the pivot toward Lent and Easter. Light a candle at sunset on February 2, read Luke 2:22-40, and reflect on transitions—the movement from darkness to light, from waiting to recognition, from winter to the first stirrings of spring. Pair this with reading about Imbolc or the European folk traditions of weather divination to understand the broader cultural tapestry surrounding early February.
The classic hagiography The Golden Legend by Jacobus de Voragine includes reflections on Candlemas in medieval Christianity. For contemporary theological context, explore resources from liturgical traditions that still emphasize the feast, such as the writings of Pope Benedict XVI or Eastern Orthodox liturgical commentaries.