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Sunday, February 2, 2014

February E-Newsletter: Renaissance Candlemas concert

Renaissance Candlemas concert: Beautiful music in a beautiful cathedral space

Friday, February 7 at 8 PM

Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter & Paul

Buy tickets here

CANDLEMAS – A Midwinter Holiday


The word Candlemas is derived from the Middle English word candelmasse, in turn descended from Old English, candelmæsse, built on the words candel + mæsse (candle+mass = candle-feast). The word Candlemas appears in English usage before the twelfth century. The spelling Candle Mass has also been used.

Candlemas is an ancient Christian feast day, also known as the Feast of the Purification of Mary, or the Feast of the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple. It occurs on February 2, forty days after Christmas, and commemorates Mary’s submitting herself to ritual purification after the birth of her son Jesus, in accordance with Mosaic Law. It also commemorates the meeting with the aged priest Simeon, who, upon seeing Mary’s infant son, proclaimed him as the “Light to the gentiles.” Because of this, the feast has always involved a celebration of light. The most famous of the customs—and the one from which the feast gained its common name—is that of the blessing of, and procession with, candles.



In the Eastern Church the feast is known as the “Greeting of the Child.”

The words spoken by Simeon upon his seeing the Child Jesus, according to the evangelist Luke, are familiar to many as the text of the Nunc dimittis (or the Canticle of Simeon):
“Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace; according to Thy word: 
for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation…”


According to many old European customs, this feast’s association with light and its position mid-way between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox made it a good day to predict the coming of spring, as in this English rhyme:
If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Winter has another flight.
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Winter will not come again. 

Our Groundhog Day is simply the American transplant of these European traditions.

The snowdrop, which blooms in mid-winter, is called the “Candlemas bell” and is a symbol of spring or of hope.


Ancient history

Candlemas supplanted older, pre-Christian (pagan) festivals of purification that occurred at this time of year. Lupercalia was a very ancient, possibly pre-Roman pastoral festival, observed on February 13 through 15 (the Ides of February) to avert evil spirits and purify the city, releasing health and fertility. It was celebrated for nearly 1200 years until outlawed in 494 AD. Lupercalia subsumed Februa, an earlier-origin spring-cleansing ritual held on the same date, which gave the month of February (Februarius) its name.

The Renaissance Candlemas program will include a selection

of beautiful motets appropriate for this feast.