Candlemas is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, celebrated on February 2, when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Jerusalem Temple forty days after His birth. It is called Candlemas because the Church blesses candles that day, recalling Simeon’s words that Jesus is “a light to lighten the Gentiles” (Luke 2:32, KJV).
What is the meaning of Candlemas?
The meaning begins with Christ: Jesus is presented in the Temple, recognized by faithful Israel, and proclaimed as light for the nations. The feast joins several themes at once: obedience to the Law of Moses, the joy of meeting the Messiah, the blessing of candles, and the quiet close of the Christmas cycle in many homes and churches.
For Catholic and other liturgical Christian families, Candlemas is not simply a “candle day.” It is a feast of encounter. Mary and Joseph come to the Temple with the infant Jesus; Simeon and Anna, who have waited in hope, recognize Him; and the Church takes up the sign of blessed light in prayer and procession.
Key features of Candlemas:
- Date: February 2, forty days after Christmas.
- Liturgical name: the Presentation of the Lord.
- Biblical source: Luke 2:22-40.
- Central sign: the blessing of candles, often followed by a procession.
- Spiritual theme: Christ as light, salvation, and glory.
- Family custom: for many, the last day to keep up the Christmas decorations or the nativity scene.
The biblical story in Luke 2:22-40
Luke’s Gospel tells how Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple after His birth. There they fulfilled what the Law of Moses required and offered the sacrifice of the poor: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. The story is tender, public, and deeply rooted in Israel’s worship.
Simeon, a righteous and devout man, had been waiting for the consolation of Israel. Moved by the Holy Spirit, he came into the Temple, took the child Jesus in his arms, and blessed God. His hymn, known as the Nunc Dimittis, is still prayed in the Church’s night prayer and sung in many liturgical traditions.
In that canticle, Simeon declares that he has seen God’s salvation, prepared before all peoples. The Candlemas candles come from this image of Christ as light. Simeon also tells Mary that a sword will pierce her soul, pointing toward the sorrow and sacrifice still to come.
Anna, a prophetess, also appears in the Temple. She gives thanks to God and speaks about the child to those who were waiting for redemption. Together, Simeon and Anna show two forms of faithful waiting: prayerful expectation and joyful witness.
Why is Candlemas forty days after Christmas?
Candlemas falls forty days after December 25 because Luke connects the presentation of Jesus with the Law of Moses. In the biblical law, a mother came for purification after childbirth, and the firstborn son was presented or consecrated to the Lord. Mary and Joseph’s journey to the Temple shows their humble obedience and places Jesus within the covenant life of Israel.
That is why the feast has historically been known as both the Purification of Mary and the Presentation of the Lord. Today the emphasis in the calendar is on Christ, the infant Lord entering His Temple. Yet the Marian dimension remains close at hand: Mary carries the Light of the world and offers Him in faith.
The forty days also make Candlemas a final echo of Christmas. The manger, the Temple, the candles, and Simeon’s song all belong together. The child born in Bethlehem is now proclaimed in Jerusalem as salvation for all peoples.
Candlemas traditions in church
Candlemas traditions vary by parish and Christian tradition, but the heart of the liturgy is simple. The blessing of candles often takes place at the start of Mass. After the prayers of blessing, clergy, servers, and people may carry lighted candles in procession, entering the church as a visible sign of Christ the Light.
The procession is not only decorative. It teaches through action. The faithful hold candles, hear the Gospel of the Presentation, and move together behind the light that points to Jesus. In some places families bring candles from home to be blessed; in others, the parish provides candles for the congregation.
A typical Candlemas liturgy may include:
- Gathering outside or near the entrance of the church, where candles are distributed.
- The blessing of candles, with prayers asking that those who use them may be drawn closer to Christ.
- A candlelit procession, often into the nave before Mass continues.
- The readings and Gospel, especially Luke 2:22-40.
- Hymns or antiphons about light, salvation, and the Presentation of the Lord.
For parish staff and sacristans, preparation matters. Order candles in advance, especially if the parish plans to give candles to families or invite parishioners to carry them in procession. Consider beeswax content, candle size, holders or drip protectors, and how many candles each family will need. Estimate attendance, then decide whether each person or each household will receive candles. If children will take part, choose sizes they can manage and plan supervision.
CFaithS carries several options:
- Candlemas Candles, two candles per box, with a self-fitting end or plain end.
- The Candlemas Candle Set, a convenient two-pack that can be blessed on February 2 and used through the year.
- Candlemas Day Candles, boxed in pairs and sold by the case of fifty pairs for parishes, in stearine or 51% beeswax.
If your parish is weighing materials, see our guide to beeswax and stearine candles.
How are blessed candles used at home?
Blessed candles are sacramentals: sacred signs used with prayer and faith. They are not magic objects, and the Church does not treat them as guarantees of safety, healing, or any particular result. They help the home remember Christ, the Light of the world, in ordinary and difficult moments.
Families may place a Candlemas candle near a home prayer corner, crucifix, icon, or family Bible. When lighting it, it is fitting to pray simply: a psalm, the Nunc Dimittis, the Our Father, the Hail Mary, or spontaneous prayers of thanksgiving and trust.
Common home uses include:
- Family prayer: lighting a blessed candle during evening prayer or Scripture reading.
- Storms and hard nights: praying calmly together for peace and trust in God.
- The bedside of the sick or dying: keeping prayerful vigil with reverence and care.
- Advent: lighting candles as the household waits for the coming of Christ.
- Feast days: marking solemnities, patronal feasts, baptism anniversaries, or name days.
Good candle care is part of reverent use. Place candles in stable holders, keep them away from curtains and greenery, never leave them unattended, and store them respectfully when not in use.
Candlemas and the end of the Christmas cycle
For many families, Candlemas marks the end of the Christmas cycle. Some households keep the nativity scene up until February 2, then take it down after prayer. The custom is meaningful because it lets the Christmas season end not with exhaustion, but with the Temple scene: Mary, Joseph, Jesus, Simeon, and Anna gathered in worship. The feasts lead into one another: the Magi of Epiphany reveal Christ to the nations, and Candlemas proclaims Him their light.
A simple family observance might include lighting a blessed candle, reading Luke 2:22-40, singing a Christmas hymn one last time, and then putting away the crèche. Children can carry a figure from the nativity to the prayer table, connecting Bethlehem with Jerusalem. If you are still looking for a crèche to keep through the whole season, our guide to choosing a nativity set can help.
Since 1997, February 2 has also been observed in the Catholic Church as the World Day for Consecrated Life. The connection is fitting: men and women in consecrated life bear witness to Christ with a life offered to God. On Candlemas, parishes may pray especially for religious sisters, brothers, monks, nuns, consecrated virgins, hermits, and members of secular institutes.
Cultural customs connected with February 2
Candlemas has gathered many local customs, because light, winter, and hope speak to human experience across cultures. Some traditions are solemn and liturgical; others are domestic, festive, or even playful.
In Mexico, Día de la Candelaria is a beloved celebration linked with Epiphany. Whoever found the baby figure in the Rosca de Reyes on January 6 traditionally provides the tamales on February 2. Another custom is dressing the figure of the Child Jesus from the family nativity and bringing it to church, joining family devotion with the feast’s theme of presenting Christ.
On February 3, the Church celebrates St. Blaise in many places. A familiar custom is the blessing of throats with two crossed candles. This blessing is a prayerful sacramental tradition, not a promise of health or a substitute for medical care.
Even Groundhog Day has a loose connection to Candlemas weather folklore. Old sayings about sunshine, shadows, and the remaining length of winter traveled through Europe and took on new life in North America. Enjoy it lightly: a bit of seasonal folklore beside the deeper Christian feast.
Candlemas planning checklist
Candlemas is always February 2, but the weekday changes each year; in 2027 it falls on a Tuesday. For parishes, schools, and families, early planning makes the feast easier to celebrate well:
- Confirm the Mass time and whether the blessing of candles will begin apart from the usual entrance.
- Estimate how many individuals or families will need candles.
- Choose candle sizes and holders suited to the procession and take-home use.
- Note beeswax content if your parish or family has a preference.
- Prepare a short explanation in the bulletin so visitors understand the tradition.
- Encourage households to bring blessed candles home for prayerful, safe use.
Candlemas is a small feast with a wide glow. It teaches that Christ enters the Temple as the promised Savior, that faithful people can recognize Him with joy, and that ordinary candles can become reminders of divine light. Whether celebrated in a full parish procession or around a family prayer table, February 2 invites Christians to receive the Light and carry Him into the world.