Candlemas 2024 is on February 2nd: what is celebrated with this holiday, where does the name come from and what is the proverb to which it is linked
Published on: 02-02-2024 10:28 – Last update: 02-02-2024 10:40
Stefano D’Alessio
JOURNALIST
Freelance journalist. Graduated in Communications, he has been involved in sports and entertainment for years. He also writes about current affairs, news and politics. He has collaborated with important newspapers and radio and TV programs, at a national and local level.
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Today, February 2if you celebrate the Feast of Candalora 2024. Not everyone knows this holiday: where does its name come from? Which proverb is it linked to? And, above all, what are we celebrating?
Because February 2nd is Candlemas Day
On February 2nd of each year, the Candlemas Festival is celebrated, which is particularly felt in some Italian regions, such as Sardinia and Sicily.
In ancient times, this festival was celebrated on February 14th (40 days after the Epiphany) but, in the 6th century, the anniversary was brought forward by Justinian to February 2 (40 days after Christmas), the day on which it is still celebrated today.
Photo source: ANSA
Candlemas is celebrated every year on February 2nd.
What is Candlemas and what is celebrated
The Candlemas Festival represents the Presentation of Jesus in the Templebut is also known as the Purification of Mary. In popular tradition, it is also known as an anniversary that involves the blessing of candles and candles in churches.
In the liturgical celebration, candles are blessed as a symbol of Christ.”light to enlighten the people“. The Gospel of Luke narrates that Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem 40 days after his birth, to “offer him” to God. During the visit, Mary and Joseph met Simeone, who was predicted that he would not die before seeing the Messiah. Simeon praised the Lord with the words today known as “Nunc dimittis” or “Song of Simeon”, with which he announced that Jesus would be a light for the nations and glory of Israel, but also a sign of contradiction.
This holiday is also observed by the Orthodox Church and several Protestant churches. In some areas the tradition is for the faithful to bring their candles to the local church for blessing.
What proverb is Candlemas linked to?
The Candlemas Festival, in Italy, is often associated with a Proverbsdeclined in various dialects, and, even, at forecast and the rotation between winter and spring.
Despite several variations, the proverb to which the Candlemas Festival is linked reads:
“When winter’s Candlemas comes we are outside, but if it rains or winds, we are in winter”.
As mentioned, the proverb has many regional variations but, more or less, the meaning is always the same: if it is sunny on the day of Candlemas, winter will be short-lived. In some areas, however, the opposite effect is claimed, that is, that bad weather on the day of Candlemas is a sign of the imminent arrival of Spring.
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Photo source: ANSA