A Modern Catholic’s Guide to Celebrating Candlemas

Candlemas is the end of the liturgical season of Christmas. Christmas is the story of the gradual revelation of the Light of Christ. Celebrate Candlemas and unlock the mystery!

Candlemas, also known as the Feast of the Presentation, is Groundhog’s day.

Most Catholics don’t know that. And most of the secular world has no idea that the roots of their quirky mid-winter holiday are actually Catholic.

Astrologically, the year can be divided into eighths (usually, it’s divided into quarters with Winter and Summer solstices and Spring and Fall equinoxes), and Groundhog’s Day/Candlemas falls on the first of the eighths of the year. February 2nd.

Since it falls at winter’s astrological midway point, Candlemas has always been a logical time for frigid Christians (and pagans) to ask the obvious question: “How much longer is this going to last?”

An old English rhyme¹ says,

If Candlemas Day be fair and bright, winter will have another flight. But if it be dark with clouds and rain, winter is gone and will not come again.

Later, animals got involved.

In England, they used a hedgehog as a meteorologist; in Germany, a badger. And, in America, if the groundhog sees his shadow (i.e., Candlemas day is fair and bright), there will be six more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t see his shadow (i.e., the day is dark with rain clouds), it’s a sign of early spring.²

If God is present in all things, then he’s present in weird anecdotes about groundhogs and badgers too.

Simeon did not predict the end of winter when Jesus was presented in the temple on the first Candlemas, but he did see clearly the coming of the light of mankind and predict the salvation of the world.

Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:34 – 35)

I plan to share recipes and traditional devotions here on The Saintmaker Blog to help you bring the liturgy into your life.

Today, I’ve got something super exciting for you: the ULTIMATE guide to Candlemas! This is a post you will want to print out, refer to every year, and share with friends and family. We’ll explore ancient Candlemas traditions from around the world that modern families will love—and give you the tools you need to bring the liturgy home on this holy day.

As modern Catholics, with access to research tools that our ancestors never dreamed of, we can draw on the rich history of special foods, flowers, and devotions for every liturgical season from around the world to make our Candlemas traditions truly special.

You can think of this post, and our other Liturgical Celebration Guides, as extensions of the Monthly Feasts and Devotions pages in our one-of-a-kind Catholic planner The Saintmaker. Those pages serve as reminders. These guides serve as detailed blueprints for making the most of saints’ days, holy days, and feast days.

We hope you enjoy!

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what is candlemas and its spiritual meaning

40 days after Christmas, according to the 1962 traditional calendar, the Church celebrates the “Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary,” which is commonly referred to as “Candlemas”. In the new calendar, this is called the “Presentation of the Lord”.

Mary was obedient to Mosaic law when she waited for 40 days after Jesus’ birth for the period of her purification before returning to the temple. Mary did not need to be purified, but she was still obedient to the law.

After 40 days, Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to the temple to present him to the Lord. When Jesus was brought to the temple, Simeon the Prophet declared that the child Christ would be a “light for revelation to the Gentiles”.

Traditionally, when we commemorate this occasion during Holy Mass, there is a blessing and procession of candles, symbolizing that Jesus is indeed the “light of the world” and a source of supernatural hope for Catholics year-round.

Candlemas Devotions and Traditions

FOOD AND DRINK FOR CANDLEMAS

If you’re like me, and your ancestors didn’t pass on any secret family Candlemas recipes, don’t worry. That’s why I wrote this article.

Choosing a menu is a great way to start planning for a feast. There are tons of great recipes available online and in some hard-to-find books on liturgy and homemaking that I’ll share with you in this post. Whatever is on your menu, serve your feast with blessed candles burning everywhere.

As I already mentioned, there are lots of great ethnic Candlemas traditions from around the world, so here are some Candlemas themes for you to explore based on ethnicity:

Mexican: In Mexico, family and friends gather at Candlemas for a big tamale feast. Tamales are made with corn dough stuffed with meat. The dough is wrapped and cooked in corn husks or banana leaves and the cooked dough and meat is removed from the husks before eating. Many also enjoy a warm corn atole beverage. After dinner, it’s time to pray the rosary, sing songs, and dance!
French: For a French theme, try crêpes suzette with orange sauce, the traditional Candlemas meal in France. For an easier-to-make version, prepare plain crêpes with a few sweet and savory toppings on the side. I suggest serving them with some bacon, an arugula salad, and some wine for brunch on Candlemas day.
Irish: Potato pancakes called boxties are the go-to feast day meal for Candlemas in Ireland. An old Irish rhyme goes, “Boxty on the griddle, boxty on the pan; if you can't make boxty, you'll never get a man”—and boxties are really good, so maybe there’s something to it.

Resources

Muy Bueno Cookbook’s Authentic Mexican Pork Tamales Rojos Recipe (https://muybuenocookbook.com/how-to-make-tamales-tamalada-video)
Jacques Pepin’s Crêpes Suzette (https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/crepes-suzette)
Christina’s Cucina Traditional Irish Boxty Recipe (https://www.christinascucina.com/traditional-irish-boxty-best-ever)

CANDLEMAS CRAFTS & FAMILY ACTIVITIES

In addition to the great foods that you can serve to friends and family, there are so many fun activities you can do to celebrate Candlemas—all of which will be especially joyous if you have children!

PARTICIPATE IN A TRADITIONAL CANDLE BLESSING

Until the liturgical reforms of the late 1960s, every Candlemas, Catholics around the world would bring candles to their Church to be blessed during the traditional Blessing of Candles.

This all changed after Vatican II, but there are signs of life in terms of restoring the traditional candle blessing.

If your home parish doesn’t offer a Candlemas blessing, call around to other parishes in your area to find one that does. Parishes that offer the Traditional Latin Mass will generally (but not always) offer a Candlemas Blessing of the Candles.

Once you find your Mass, it’s time to collect your candles. Some recommend using only candles that contain at least 51% beeswax (which is the requirement for candles used in the Mass), but there are differing points of view on this when it comes to home use, so my advice is don’t stress about it too much (beeswax is expensive!).

Here is my candle shopping list this year:

7 red candles for Pentecost (to burn daily throughout the 8-day Pentecost octave [i.e., the 8 days )
1 large white pillar candle for Easter (to burn nightly for 40 days)
5 medium pillar candles for Advent (3 purple, 1 pink, and 1 white)
A supply of various sized additional candles for the home altar, storms, and times of need

During the candle blessing, the priest prays 5 prayers over the candles, and sprinkle them 3 times with holy water while the choir and parishioners sing the Aspérges me (“Sprinkle me, O Lord, with hyssop and I shall be cleansed…”). The candles are then incensed. After Mass, there is typically a procession where everyone holds their newly blessed candles and sings hymns together.

For me, this is one of the most beautiful ceremonies of the entire Church year! I hope you get to attend!

LOOK FOR EARLY SIGNS OF SPRING

Follow in the footsteps of countless Catholic families around the world throughout history and take your loved ones on a mid-winter walk through the woods. Most importantly, keep an eye out for early flowers and other signs of spring.

Here’s a foraging list:

Snowdrop flowers: In Europe, snowdrop flowers often bloom around Candlemas time. Snowdrops are tiny white flowers that pop up between patches of snow—they are the first sign that spring is coming! Traditionally, families gathered up bouquets of snowdrops to bring to nearby shrines to Our Lady, as their first flower offering of the year.
Winter foliage: If there are no snowdrop flowers in your area—or if it’s too cold for snowdrops to grow—gather up a bouquet of twigs or some pine cones. These will look very beautiful as a table centerpiece if you apply a bit of creativity.

DRESS UP THE CHILD JESUS

Another great Mexican tradition on Candlemas is to dress up the infant Jesus from the family nativity scene and take it to Church to be blessed. This is a beautiful way to commemorate the feast when Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to the temple for the first time.

Some families choose new “Godparents” from amongst the children for the infant Jesus each year. The Godparents have the honor of dressing the figure. Then, throughout the year, families keep the baby Jesus in a chair near the family altar, or another special place in the home.

My husband and I don’t have children yet, but when we do, this is one custom that I’m excited to incorporate into our family traditions!

A brief search on Etsy turned up the following options:

Infant Jesus figure
Christ the King outfit
Pope outfit

DECORATE YOUR OWN BLESSED CANDLES

In Poland, the blessed candles are decorated with religious symbols, fir branches, and pale blue ribbons to commemorate Mary.

This makes a simple, but meaningful, craft project for all ages. Decorated candles can be kept for storms and times of sickness, or given away as gifts on special days throughout the year such as births, baptisms, and confirmations.

I have given several blessed candles as gifts to non-Catholic family members. This is an excellent type of evangelism, and blessed candles (and other sacramentals) bring joy even to non-believers.

TAKE DOWN CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS (IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY)

The feasts between Advent and Candlemas are all about light. If you’re really on top of your Christmas decoration game, your decorations reflect the progression of light in the liturgy:

Advent – Expectation of the coming of the Light to the dark world – Advent wreath is gradually lit over the course of four weeks
Christmas – The coming of the Light to the dark world – Christ candle is lit in Advent wreath, Christmas lights are all illuminated, Christ child is placed in creche
Epiphany – The revelation of the nature of the Light (that Christ is the Son of God) – Wise men appear at creche, the infant Christ is dressed in kingly robes
Candlemas – The revelation of Christ as the savior of the world – Christ child is blessed and removed from the creche, creche and all Christmas decorations are taken down (since the light of Christ is now fully revealed)

Fisheaters.com reports³:

The eve of this Feast is the absolutely last (and best) day for taking down the Christmas tree, putting away the creche, etc. In some Latin countries, the creche isn't just put away, but is replaced with a figure of the Child Jesus sitting on a chair, acting as a sign that it is time for the devotion to the Divine Childhood to give way to a focus on the grown-up Savior and the public ministry, forty days of fasting, and Passion to come.
In any case, when Candlemas is finished, all feelings of Christmas give way to the penitential feelings of Septuagesima and then Lent. The English poet, Robert Herrick (A.D. 1591-1674), sums it up in his poem "Ceremony Upon Candlemas Eve"—and reveals a folktale in the process:
Ceremony Upon Candlemas Eve
Down with the rosemary, and so
Down with the bays and misletoe ;
Down with the holly, ivy, all,
Wherewith ye dress'd the Christmas Hall :
That so the superstitious find
No one least branch there left behind :
For look, how many leaves there be
Neglected, there (maids, trust to me)
So many goblins you shall see.

Resources

Latin Mass Directory (https://www.latinmassdir.org/)
Use this resource to help you find a local Traditional Latin Mass that will be offering the traditional Blessing of Candles.
Etsy (https://www.etsy.com)

CANDLEMAS PRAYERS, SONGS, AND READINGS

We all love food, drinks, and fun, but these things will be especially enjoyable if you understand, appreciate, and participate in the deeper spiritual meaning of a feast day.

In general, a good go-to activity for feast day celebrations is to read about the history of the day and to incorporate a timely prayer or hymn. Read on for some excellent traditional Candlemas prayers and readings.

LEARN ABOUT THE CHURCHING OF WOMEN

Although not directly set on Candlemas, “The Churching of Women” is a Catholic ritual for women after childbirth that commemorates Mary’s Purification. Today is a great day to learn more about this ritual and to make a practical resolution to talk to your priest about whether this blessing is available to you for new children.

Traditionally, after having a child, a mother would go to her priest for a special blessing. This was a way of thanking God for the child, and receiving graces to raise him or her in a manner pleasing to Him.

Again, Fisheaters.com reports:

The Churching of women (or simply "Churching"), while not a required ritual, should be carried out as soon as the new mother is able to leave the house (the Church permits women to stay home, without culpability, from church for 6 weeks after giving birth) and after baby has been baptized.
Know that Churching is not a "purification" ceremony, though it is imitative of the day, which we commemorate on 2 February (Candlemas), on which Mary underwent her "purification" (ceremonially speaking and in obedience to the Old Law) and presented her Son in the Temple to Simeon. There is no sense in the Catholic rite of there being any "uncleanness" on the part of the new mother. Its focus is on thanksgiving and asking for blessings.

SAY GOODBYE TO CHRISTMAS

With Candlemas, the time has arrived to take down the creche and any remaining Christmas decorations in preparation for the upcoming Lenten season.

This is also the perfect time to read "I Am Christmas"⁴, a carol announcing the end of the Christmas season, which was recorded by a Franciscan friar all the way back in 1492. Here is the carol:

Here have I dwelled with more and less
From Hallowtide till Candlemas,
And now must I from you hence pass:
Now have good day!
I take my leave of king and knight,
And earl, baron and lady bright,
To wilderness I must be dight;
Now have good day!
And at the good lord of this hall
I take my leave, and of guests all.
Methinks I hear, Lent doth call;
Now have good day!
And at every worthy officer,
Marshall, panter and butler,
I take my leave as for this year;
Now have good day!
Another year I trust I shall
Make merry in this hall,
If rest and peace in England may fall;
Now have good day!
But oftentimes I have heard say
That he is loth to part away,
That often biddeth "have good day";
Now have good day!
Now fare ye well, all in fere!
Now fare ye well for all this year!
Yet for my sake, have good cheer;
Now have good day!

PRAY THE NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF GOOD SUCCESS

Traditionally, the Novena to Our Lady of Good Success⁵ was said once a day for nine days, starting on January 24th, and ending on Candlemas eve.

Hail Mary Most Holy, Beloved Daughter of God the Father Through the intercession of Mother Mariana de Jesus Torres, grant thy good success to this request. (mention your intentions here)
(Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be)
Saint Michael, pray for us.
Hail Mary Most Holy, Admirable Mother of God the Son Through the intercession of Mother Mariana de Jesus Torres, grant thy good success to this request. (mention your intentions here)
(Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be)
Saint Gabriel, pray for us.
Hail Mary Most Holy, Most Faithful Spouse of the Holy Ghost Through the intercession of Mother Mariana de Jesus Torres, grant thy good success to this request. (mention your intentions here)
(Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be)
Saint Raphael, pray for us.
Hail Mary Most Holy, Temple and Sacrarium of the Most Holy Trinity. St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael, pray for us.
Our Lady of Good Success, thou who art the all-powerful intercessor before the Most Holy Trinity, deign to hear and answer my request - so long as it contributes to the salvation of my soul and the glory and exaltation of Holy Mother Church.
Hail holy Queen, mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us. And after this our exile show unto us the blessed Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Amen.

how to LIVE LITURGICALLY ALL year round

If you can take just one feast day per season and turn it into a celebration, then you can create a beautiful liturgically-centered home life.

A few easy-to-apply principles will make any feast day special:

Prepare a nice meal that reflects some aspect of the liturgical story that the Church is presenting
Decorate with beautiful elements of nature that represent something unique about the symbolism of the feast
Attend the most reverent Mass that you can find with your loved ones
Pray any traditional novenas or litanies as you can
Read relevant poetry, literature, stories of the saints, and famous sermons

Above all, it helps me to remember: liturgical living isn’t about doing things out of obligation or mechanically checking things off of a list. It’s about celebrating the beauty in our traditions, commemorating our saints and our ancestors, and showing our love for Our Lord and the Church.

This Candlemas, and every feast day, enjoy yourself, enjoy sharing the joy of our Faith, and God bless!

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SOURCES

¹ “Candlemas / Groundhog Day.” Almanac. https://www.almanac.com/fact/candlemasgroundhog-day-its-no-accident-that-groundhog-holiday. Accessed 28 January 2022.

² White, Newman Ivey, and Wayland D. Hand. “Popular Beliefs and Superstitions from North Carolina.” The Frank C. Brown Collection of NC Folklore. , pt. 2, Duke University Press, Jul 15, 2013, p. 214.

³ “Candlemas also known as the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary
and the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus.” Fisheaters, https://www.fisheaters.com/customstimeafterepiphany3.html. Accessed 28 January 2022.

⁴ Ryman, James. “Now Have Good Day, Now Have Good Day!” Ancient English Christmas Carols: 1400-1700, edited by Edith Rickert, London: Chatto & Windus, 1914, pp. 225-6. The Hymns and Carols of Christmas. https://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/now_have_good_day_now_have_good.htm. Accessed 28 January 2022.

⁵ “Novena to Our Lady of Good Success.” Ascension Press. https://ascensionpress.com/pages/novena-to-our-lady-of-good-success. Accessed 28 January 2022.

7 DAYS TO SPIRITUAL FREEDOM

what is candlemas and its spiritual meaning

7 days to SPIRITUAL FREEDOM