Helen Tyte

Candlemas

Today we celebrate Candlemas, where we remember the purification of Mary forty days after the birth of Jesus, and the presentation of Jesus in the Temple. Forty days after the birth of a Jewish boy, it was the custom to take him to the temple in Jerusalem to be presented to God by his thankful parents.

But why do we call it Candlemas?

From the 7th century, it became the day of the year when all the candles, that were to be used in the church during the coming year, were brought into church and a blessing was said over them – so it was the Festival Day (or ‘mass’) of the candles.

Candles were very important because there were no electric lights. Some people thought they gave protection against plague, illness, and famine. For Christians, candles were (and still are) a reminder of something even more important. Before Jesus came to earth, it was as if everyone was ‘in the dark’. People felt lost and lonely. Afraid. As if they were on their own, with no one to help them. Then came Jesus with his message that he is with his followers always ready to help and comfort them. He is a guiding light to us in the darkness. Jesus is ‘the light of the World’ – and candles are lit during church services to remind Christians of this.