Candlemas

Can·dle·mas

noun \ˈkan-d^əl-məs\

Definition of CANDLEMAS

: February 2 observed as a church festival in commemoration of the presentation of Christ in the temple and the purification of the Virgin Mary

Origin of CANDLEMAS

Middle English candelmasse, from Old English candelmæsse, from candel + mæsse mass, feast; from the candles blessed and carried in celebration of the feast

First Known Use: before 12th century

Candlemas

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

(February 2) In the Christian church, the celebration of the presentation of the infant Jesus and the post-childbirth purification of Mary in the Temple, in accordance with Jewish law. The Greek church calls it Hypapante (“Meeting”) in reference to Jesus' meeting there with Simeon, to whom it had been revealed that he would not die before meeting the Messiah. The festival is first documented in Jerusalem in the late 4th century; the custom of observing it with lighted candles (the source of its name) dates to at least the mid-5th century. The popular nonreligious holiday Groundhog Day developed, in part, from the medieval tradition that certain animals interrupted their hibernation on this day.