Before Valentine’s Day comes Candlemas. (Which is also known as Groundhog’s Day in some circles. However, for our purposes –which is to bring romance into our lives on February 2– I’m sticking with the day’s more poetic name.)
What is Candlemas?
It all started back in ancient times with Imbolc, a pagan ceremony that celebrated the halfway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. Gaelic and Irish cultures (pre-Christianity) dedicated the day to Brigid, goddess of poetry, healing, and smithcraft. Christian’s later continued the tradition by honoring it as St. Brigid’s Day.
The day’s main purpose was to figure out (via interpreting signs) whether spring was on the way or if winter was sticking around for a while yet. (Such signs included watching the behaviors of den-dwelling animals, such as snakes and badgers. If they came out and lingered, spring was near. If not, time to buck up and deal with more winter. This is where Groundhog’s Day gets its origins.)
Light and Fire: Important Candlemas Symbols
Candlemas has also been called the Christian Festival of Lights and the Festival Day of the Candles. It used to be the day of the year when all the church’s candles that would be used in the coming year were blessed.
We take candles for granted these days. We use them for decoration and to imbue our homes with pleasing scents, but once upon a time candles served many an important function. Most important was light to see by, but the fire that emanated from them was also thought to ward off evil, plague, and famine. For Christians, candlelight also represented Jesus and how he brought light to the world. (As in enlightenment.)
Candlemas Celebrations and Superstitions: Then
Hearth and home is at the center of Candlemas traditions. Lighting candles and putting them throughout the house and in every window was important. So was drinking the milk of lactating ewes due to give birth in spring. And what kind of celebration would it be without a feast?
A lit candle carried into church that drips only on one side is said to be the harbinger of a death of someone near and dear.
If snowdrops (also known as Candlemas bells) bloomed before Candlemas, it was unlucky to bring them in the house before Candlemas Day.
Celebrating Candlemas Now
Some religions still observe the day, but Candlemas doesn’t have to serve religious purposes in order to be celebrated. Based on its origins, it has some wonderful components lovers could employ to make it a memorably romantic day. (Or night.)
For instance, you could light plenty of candles, read some poetry (perhaps to each other over a candlelit dinner?), snuggle by a roaring fire, or give a bouquet containing snowdrops.
Happy Candlemas Eve! I hope you enjoy romancing Candlemas tomorrow. (I’m going to.)
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