Candlemas

Candlemas is a Christian holiday commemorating the presentation of Jesus at the Temple. It falls on February 2, which is the 40th day of the Christmas/Epiphany period.

History

The Feast of the Presentation is one of the oldest feasts of the Catholic Church, celebrated since the 4th century AD in Jerusalem. There are sermons on the Feast by the bishops Methodius of Patara (died 312), Cyril of Jerusalem (died 360), Gregory the Theologian (died 389), Amphilochius of Iconium (died 394), Gregory of Nyssa (died 400), and John Chrysostom (died 407). It is also mentioned in the pilgrimage of Egeria (381 - 384), where she confirmed that the celebrations took place in honor of the presentation of Jesus at the Temple.

Christmas was, in the West, celebrated on December 25 since, at least, the year 354 AD when it was fixed by Pope Liberius. Forty days after that was automatically February 2. In the Eastern parts of the Roman Empire, Roman consul Justin established the celebration of the Hypapante on February 2, 521 AD.

Scottish term days

Scottish term and quarter days are the four divisions of the legal year, historically used as the days when contracts and leases would begin and end, servants would be hired or dismissed, and rent, interest on loans, and ministers' stipends would become due. The Term Days are Whitsunday and Martinmas, and together with Candlemas and Lammas they constitute the Quarter Days. Although they originally occurred on holy days, corresponding roughly to the old Celtic quarter days, they were fixed by the Term and Quarter Days (Scotland) Act 1990 as falling on the 28th day every three months, thus:

History

Candlemas originally fell on 2 February, the day of the feast of the Purification, or the Presentation of Christ. This was celebrated in pre-Reformation times by candlelit processions. The tradition was started in the 5th century during the Roman celebration of Februa, and carried over into Scotland, where mothers of children born the previous year would march with candles, hoping to be purified by the Virgin Mary

Candlemas (disambiguation)

Candlemas is the Christian feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple.

It can also refer to: