Candlemas: meaning and origins of the celebration of February 2nd

The Candlemas it is a very heartfelt religious festival especially in some regions such as the two Italian islands, Sardinia and Sicily. It is celebrated on February 2, exactly 40 days after Christmas, and represents the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. In addition to the Presentation of the Lord, it is also known as the Purification of Mary. But it is also known because, in popular tradition, Candlemas is the anniversary it involves the blessing of candles and candles in churches.
In the liturgical celebration, candles are blessed, symbol of Christ “light to illuminate the people”, as the child Jesus was called by the old Simeon at the time of his presentation at the Temple of Jerusalem which was prescribed by Jewish law for the firstborn males.
The holiday is also observed by the Orthodox Church and by several Protestant churches. In many areas and in different denominations it is a common tradition for the faithful to bring their candles to the local church for blessing.
Already celebrated by the emperor Justinian, was adopted in Rome as early as the seventh century, with a penitential procession established by Pope Sergius I (687-701). In the Tridentine calendar the feast was called “Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary”. The reform introduced by the Second Vatican Council wanted to demonstrate more clearly the centrality of the figure of Christ.

In ancient times the festival was celebrated on February 14 (40 days after the Epiphany). During his episcopate, Pope Gelasius I (492-496) obtained from the Senate the abolition of the pagan Lupercali which were replaced, in fact, by the Christian celebrations of Candlemas. In the 6th century, as mentioned, the anniversary was brought forward by Justinian to February 2, the date on which it is still celebrated today.
But Candlemas is also often associated with proverbs and even weather forecasts. In fact, there are numerous dialect proverbs that predict the weather to come based on what occurs on February 2nd: if in Calabria, after this festival, another 40 days are predicted before the explosion of the summer, Trieste will he says that if Candlemas “comes with sun and bora we are out of winter, if it comes with rain and wind, we are still in winter”.

Finally, Candlemas is also deeply felt abroad. In Luxembourg, for example, it is the most awaited holiday by children who launch the traditional lanterns built in class into the sky, in Mexico Baby Jesus is celebrated, in France and Belgium it is known above all for being the day of crepes which are prepared in all the ways.