Candlemas – Brighten up February with candles and snowdrops and PANCAKES

So, today is Candlemas! Traditionally its when candles where taken into church to be blessed. It occurs 40 days after Christmas, and is known in the church year as The Presentation of Christ in the Temple, when Mary took Jesus to the temple to be blessed.

Snowdrops are sometimes called Candlemas Bells as they tend to open about now. There is a legend about the snowdrop that says an angel took pity on Eve after she and Adam were banished and made a snowdrop bloom as a symbol of hope to cheer her up.

As with many Christian festivals there are echoes of pagan festivals underneath it. Candlemas falls on or around a cross-quarter day, midway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. So, the days are getting longer again!

Known as Imbolc (lambs’ milk) because the lambing season begins around now it was also called Brigantia for the Celtic female deity of light. In the Christian tradition we recall St Brigid on 1 February.

In some countries pancakes are eaten at Candlemas.

SOoooooo

Light candles

Make pancakes

Take photos of/draw/look closely at snowdrops. Find your hope for the coming year.

God bless

Jenny x

For more information try http://projectbritain.com/year/february.htm

or https://www.almanac.com/quarter-days-and-cross-quarter-days