CANDLEMAS: READY, SET, LIGHT YOUR CANDLES

Be prepared for the blessing of the candles on Feb. 2

One of the most underrated and beautiful feast days in the Christian tradition, is Candlemas Day, which is winter's half-way point between the December solstice and the March Equinox. 

Though this tradition started in the 4th Century, I have a sneaking suspicion that it was stolen from the Greeks by the Romans who supposedly gave it to the Huns.  Traditions are many.  For example, the Germans picked it up and concluded that if the sun made an appearance on Candlemas Day, an animal, hedgehog, would cast a shadow, thus predicting six more weeks of bad weather, which they called the "Second Winter." In the United States, it evolved into Ground Hog's Day. Then Super Bowl Sunday almost as a throw back to the ancient Greek men running around with long pieces of animal skin. No matter. 

Get your candles out and ready to be blessed. Candles are supposed to be made of beeswax, however, in my research, one can use any candles that will be lit during the year in the home. My basket is full and I still need a few more as I burn candles by choice, or when the power goes off for one reason or another.  All I can say is how grateful I am that the Eqyptians came up with the invention of wax for candles. Yet, the Romans were credited with inserting wicks in the middle. 

The Priest at my church said to bring candles for blessing on Feb. 1 & 2.   The Feast Days double up for this extraordinary mark in liturgical time: The Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In paintings, we see Mary with a lamb and a pigeon (turtle dove) symbolizing the sacrifice of the lamb and a pigion for redemption of the human condition. Of course, the day is also celebrated as the Presentation of Christ in the Temple.  

The Polish celebrate Candlemas Day as the Last Day of Polish Christmas! Their churches are still fully decorated with Christmas flowers, wreaths and the nativity. The mass on February 2nd is celebrated with Christmas Carols in English and Polish.  The beautiful Polish Christmas Koledy will be performed. Attendees will get blessed candles for their homes. 

Afterwards, the meal consists of crepes that one is supposed to eat while holding coins to signify the incoming wealth of the New Year. The pancakes symbolize the sun and bright times ahead. 

Since Candlemas is a time of new beginnings, this is a good day to ritually celebrate all things new. Plan a ceremony to name a new baby, officially welcome a new person into a family or plight your troth to your beloved. Make a commitment to a goal (like a New Years resolution): this would be an especially powerful thing to do in a group.

If you plan your own ceremony, use these two powerful symbols: fire and water. For instance, wash your hands and bathe your face in salt water, which is especially good for purification. Light a candle as you make your pledge. Incorporate the third symbol of the holiday — seeds — by planting a seed or bulb in a pot to symbolize your commitment, or by blessing a bowl or packet of seeds that you will plant later.

Candlemas is an ideal time for reawakening our capacity to shine who we truly are in the separated darkness of this world. “Wake up sleeper. Rise from the dead. Let the Christ enlighten you.” teaches the Gnostic Paul, summing up the core message of Christianity, which implies releasing our dormant identities based on separation and resurrecting our united luminous nature. Blessing candles on this day can be an empowering ceremony to exemplify this process and to remind it throughout the year, whenever those candles are used.