Candlemas is a Christian feast celebrated February 2 commemorating Mary and Joseph presenting baby Jesus in the Temple of Jerusalem 40 days after his birth on Christmas (December 25th). Luke 2:22-40
It is associated with the blessing of candles and candlelight processions, symbolizing Christ as the light of the world and often marking the traditional end of the Christmas season.
Candlemas has also become a time when churches will bless all of the candles for the coming year.
Here’s something that sparked an interest for me.
A Celebration with Candlelight
Candles are in and of themselves so symbolic.
A lit candle has its own spiritual energy and presence, but a lit candle also has the power to support you in calling forth greater spiritual presence in your life.
So, as a simple and easy way to observe Candlemas, light a candle to evoke Divine Presence and to welcome light into your life.
Simple Candle Meditation
- Light a candle.
- Set the candle in front of you, and gaze into flame.
- As you gaze into the flame… Reflect on the qualities of Spirit present in the flame, and inherently present in All.
The same presence of Spirit you tune into in the candles flame is also present in you, and with awareness you can now bring it to the surface more and more in your own life.
Make or Bless Your Own Candles
If you feel inspired, Candlemas is a beautiful and symbolic time to make candles, infusing them with intention, light and blessings.
The process of creating candles can itself become a sort of mindful meditation.
If you’ve never made candles before, this beeswax candle kit is a super easy and fun introduction to making candles.
Once your candles are ready, take a quiet moment to bless them.
“May these candles be blessed with Divine Light and Presence.
May they burn with clarity, illuminating peace and truth in my life.
May the soft candlelight remind me of my inner light.”
A Powerful Time of Purification
The connection with Candlemas being the time when Mother Mary underwent a Purification ritual is also quite symbolic.
In my article about Imbolc, which is the Pagan Fire Festival that marks the hidden entrance to Spring on February 1st…
I talk about the powerful energies of Purification that are available right around this time.
It’s a good time for purification both within at the level of your thoughts and emotions…
But its also the perfect time for a little Spring cleaning of your space around.
Connection With Groundhog Day
Candlemas also a connection to the modern observation of Groundhog day which also takes place on February 2nd. The connection is that farmers observed the weather on Candlemas and used it as a reference point to determine what the weather would be like in the days to follow.
If the Sun was bright overhead… It meant more clear cold weather to come. However, if it was cloudy it meant warmer weather to come.
There’s an old English song I found referenced on Catholic Answers that goes like this:
“If Candlemas be fair and bright, / Come, Winter, have another flight. / If Candlemas brings clouds and rain, / Go, Winter, and come not again.”
With so much love,
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