Did you know that February 2nd is halfway between the Winter Solstice, (the shortest day of the year) and the Spring Equinox, (after which the days are longer than the nights)?
It is also 40 days since we celebrated Christ’s birth at Christmas. It was on the 40th day that in Jewish tradition, women who had given birth went to the temple or synagogue to be blessed with their newborn. When Mary took Jesus some unusual events took place as the child was recognised by two temple holy people, Anna and Simeon as the Messiah – even though Simeon was blind.
But why is it called Candlemas? By tradition it was a day on which people brought candles to church to be blessed, so when they lit them they had the light of Christ in their homes.