Guestling Bradshaw CE Primary School

Candlemas commemorates the presentation of the baby Jesus to God in the Temple at Jerusalem. The day also marks the ritual purification of Mary, 40 days after the birth of Jesus. The Gospel of Luke says that Jesus was met by Anna and Simeon. Simeon held the baby Jesus and called him a Light to the World.

Ritual purification stems back to a Jewish tradition that women were considered unclean after the birth of a baby. For 40 days after having a baby boy (and 60 days after having a baby girl) women weren't allowed to worship in the temple. At the end of this time, women were brought to the Temple or Synagogue to be purified. After the ceremony women were allowed to take part in religious services again.

The festival is called Candlemas because this was also the day that all the Church's candles for the year were blessed. On Candlemas night, many people place lighted candles in their windows at home.

Like some other Christian festivals, Candlemas draws some of its elements from Paganism. In pre-Christian times, it was the festival of light. This ancient festival marked the mid-point of winter, half way between the winter solstice (shortest day) and the spring equinox. Candles were important in those days, not just because there was no electricity: some people thought they gave protection against plague and illness and famine.

For Christians, they 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 often felt lost, lonely or afraid; as if they were on their own, with no one to help them. Then came Jesus with his message that he is always ready to help and comfort them, like a guiding light in the darkness. Christians often talk of Jesus as 'the light of the World' - and candles are lit during church services to remind Christians of this.

It's said that in the 5th century, Pope Gelasius I started the Festival des Chandelles on this date, a candlelit procession through the streets of Rome that culminated in placing the blessed candles in the churches. Gelasius linked this custom to crêpes by handing out galettes (a type of salty crêpe) to poor pilgrims who arrived in Rome that day.

Nowadays, pancakes or crêpes are the most important part of Candlemas or La Chandeleur in France for many. One tradition is to hold a coin in one hand while flipping the pancake with the other. If you succeed without dropping or making a mess of the pancake, you will have good luck. Another old tradition also saw people putting the first crêpe in a drawer or on top of a wardrobe to attract prosperity for the coming year.

Tradition says that a rainy day on La Chandeleur means another 40 days of rain. Other sayings suggest that a sunny day will bring more winter and misfortune, a clear day means winter is behind us, and a cloudy day means another 40 days of winter.