The actual date of Candlemas is 2nd February and there are many traditions associated with it.
This picture is hauntingly familiar to me. I managed to track it down to a book called 'My Book of the Church Year' by Enid Chadwick and Peter Kwasiewski, written in 1948. Did I have a copy as a child? Grandmother might have had one, but it's published too late for her children, all born in the 1920s and early 1930s. A mystery.
All the people in my family who could have shed any light on it are now sadly gone. You can find the whole book and all the charming illustrations here.
It's the day for particularly remembering when Jesus was brought to be presented at the temple by Mary and Joseph as their firstborn child.
Simenon, a very old prophet says,
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation;
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
To be a light to lighten the Gentile and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
(Luke chapter 2, verses 29-32)
This brings me straight back to the phrase I have chosen to sustain me through the year;
'Arise! Shine! For the light has come into the world, and the glory of the Lord is upon us'
I love the line in that song "can this tiny spark set the world on fire..."
ReplyDeleteI think this song on one of my favourites. The words are so simple, but profound.
DeleteOur Advent star shines until Candlemas, both inside the living room and outside the house. It looks beautiful in the darkness of the winter evenings... the twinkling of the stars in the windows and in front of the houses.
ReplyDeleteSending you warm greetings.
I like to keep our starry Christmas lights on until Candlemas but I was too late when my husband was packing everything up... it would have been unkind to ask him to unpack them!
DeleteI keep my wreath until Candlemas - I bring it indoors after New Year. Now I just have to remove the shrivelled greenery for recycling.
DeleteIt's interesting to see how many people keep Candlemas nowadays. When I was young I think it was quite a neglected part of Christmastide.
DeleteThat isiah verse is a lovely one to choose for the year.
ReplyDeleteIt was in the reading at zoom church on January 11th and I thought 'that's it'!
DeleteWhat lovely illustrations in that children's book.
ReplyDeleteAren't they. I'm so glad they have digitalised.
DeleteGraham Kendrick's songs are so meaningful.
ReplyDeleteHe has written some great ones over the years.
DeleteCharming illustrations in the book.
ReplyDeleteSo few colours, I wonder is that was from wartime restrictions.
DeleteGreat illustrations . I wish I'd thought to leave some Christmas lights on until Candlemas. Even though I never heard about it as a child or young person the older I get the more I like the special church-related events through the year.
ReplyDeleteI'm the same about liking church festivals. My church doesn't really follow them, apart from the big ones, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, Advent and Christmas, but I've learned about the other ones along the way as I've got older.
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