I have always loved the customs in religion and folk-law for Candlemas Day. It is a day that falls exactly in the midst of winter, between the two equinoxes and during these short, dark days, the Spring can seem far away. Snowdrops and candles are the perfect choice of symbols for this day.
As a church festival it is known as the purification of the Virgin Mary ( though why she of all people should need to be purified, I don't know) and follows the tradition within the church that a woman who has given birth needs to remain in seclusion for 40 days and then be purified at the synagogue/church at the end of this period. I am glad that this does not happen in modern life and I'm not very comfortable with the thinking behind it but I still love to follow the old ways and pick a bunch of snowdrops to put by my picture. Snowdrops have long been connected with the Virgin Mary in folk law and are also a sign of both purity and hope.
An old rhyme says:
The snowdrop in pure white array
First rears her head on Candlemas day
I have always believed that you need to have the first snowdrop with its head dropped by the 2nd of February to have good fortune and I always try to have at least a couple of blossoms in the house on this day. Luckily, I was out walking with David today and the mild weather has brought them into bloom in the hedgerows and gardens locally, so I have my little posy.
Candlemas is so called because this was the day that new candles were brought into church to be blessed. As a Quaker the symbolism of light is particularly important to me and it makes me very happy to follow the old custom of putting lighted candles in all my windows as darkness falls.
Looking at the brave flames and sniffing the honey scent of the snowdrops reminds me that the days are turning and Spring is on its way.
As a church festival it is known as the purification of the Virgin Mary ( though why she of all people should need to be purified, I don't know) and follows the tradition within the church that a woman who has given birth needs to remain in seclusion for 40 days and then be purified at the synagogue/church at the end of this period. I am glad that this does not happen in modern life and I'm not very comfortable with the thinking behind it but I still love to follow the old ways and pick a bunch of snowdrops to put by my picture. Snowdrops have long been connected with the Virgin Mary in folk law and are also a sign of both purity and hope.
The snowdrop in pure white array
First rears her head on Candlemas day
I have always believed that you need to have the first snowdrop with its head dropped by the 2nd of February to have good fortune and I always try to have at least a couple of blossoms in the house on this day. Luckily, I was out walking with David today and the mild weather has brought them into bloom in the hedgerows and gardens locally, so I have my little posy.
Candlemas is so called because this was the day that new candles were brought into church to be blessed. As a Quaker the symbolism of light is particularly important to me and it makes me very happy to follow the old custom of putting lighted candles in all my windows as darkness falls.
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Oh Jane, what an interesting post! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteNo snowdrops here as yet, we are even promised rather cold temperatures for this Pacific NW island in fact for this coming week. Jonquils stems are pocking their heads but it will be awhile before any blooms shows!
All the best,
Hello Noelle, How good it is to think that through our posts, people from so far away are connected together. Hope the weather isn't too harsh. Jane xx
DeleteA lovely post and a beautiful custom. It must be nice to pass your home and see the candle in the window. As for snowdrops, I always love to see them in a huge display, as you sometimes do in certain bits of woodland. Actually, though, I saw a bed of opening daffodils in a London park today. The first time I've ever seen daffodils come out before snowdrops!
ReplyDeleteI'll try leaving this comment again - the first came up with an error. I only wanted to say how nice your candles in the windows must look to passers by - and how I saw some daffodils out in a London park... the first time I have seen them coming out before snowdrops!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe that Daffodils are in bloom already! I too love the thought of my candles shining our into the night. I'm a bit secluded where I live however, so only my close
Deleteneighbours would see them. Jane xx
I'm in Tennessee and we have had excruciatingly cold weather for the past three weeks with more to come! No flowers blooming here yet -- with temperatures below zero Fahrenheit they would all wither anyway.
ReplyDeleteI like your candles in the windows, but cannot do likewise since we have cats and they won't leave the candles alone. They'd burn the whole house down if we didn't watch every moment...
I like the thought of your energetic cats- luckily ours didn't seem to notice! Jane xx
DeleteI can feel the warmth and light from here in Oregon. I've never heard of Candlemas Day before but I'm going to put it on my calendar for next year.
ReplyDeleteThat purification ritual is something else. I guess in order to be purified you had to be unpure first and evidently having a baby makes you unclean somehow. Who knows, but I do very much like the grouping in your Virgin photo.
I'm glad you like my photo and flowers. I hope to tell the tale behind that little picture one day. Jane xx
DeleteJane, I like to turn off all the lights and only have the house lit by candles on Candlemas Day, too. It reminds me of all that is associated with Light. Unfortunately, today here February 2 was superbowl Sunday and everything else was forgotten. (Even though I'm not a football fan). Thank you for this sweet reminder. Diane
ReplyDeleteI sort of guessed that you might know about and celebrate Candlemas Diane- Long may we light our candles. Jane xx
DeleteIn France, it is La Chandeleur - or, as my son's girlfriend says, Crepe day - everyone eats lots of crepes and to predict whether the coming year will be good. Happy belated Candlemas Day!
ReplyDeleteAnd a belated Happy Crepe day to you too! Jane xx
DeleteAlthough I generally know a bit about these old customs I must admit that Candlemas has rather passed me by. So thanks for enlightening this ignorant old fool!
ReplyDeleteNever an ignorant old fool John! Anyway, I shall think of you with your snowdrop posy next February! Jane xx
DeleteA lovely post Jane. I took some pictures of our snowdrops only this weekend, so I must post them on our blog. :)
ReplyDeleteSnowdrops are one of my favourite flowers and probably the ones most eagerly awaited. Jane xx
DeleteI do like your candles in the window. It is very black here tonight beyond the stove and the lamps. Perhaps I will light some.
ReplyDeleteThere is a special delight in candles on a bleak, dark night. I think it is the link with people through past ages. Jane xx
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