New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-29
),G

II was Pope Selgius who started the custom Of
candle bearing I'm 684, according 10 old com
mentator the festival, who explains its meaning
after this fashion: "a candell IS made OF weke and
wexe; so was Crystes sOule hyd within the manhOde
also the tyre beokcneth the Godhede also 1t be-
tokeneth our Laydes m0derhede and maydenhede,
light with the tyre OF love-"
Candemas was a day OF great Importance TO the
Church OF the Middle Ages. and was not only the
favo.e time for the blessing Of the candles for use
during the year, but also for the ceremony among
Christian mothers analogous to the Mosaic presenta-
ton In the Temple. Hence came the custom OF bear
Ing candles for those services at other times OF year
In England however, men were not particularly at
tenve TO the pious CUSTOM for 1t Is recorded mat
Men seldom offer candles at womens churchynges
saving Ladies' but reason IT is that she have some
preferement," and though she did have some
prcfcrment the English before the Reformation were
inclined to find fault because they were not allowed
10 eat Aesh every Saturday with Joy and pardon in
honor OF the Virgin done In Flanders, saying
"the Pope is not good to u.s. and drawing the
conclusion that there good reason for them 10
eat flesh with the Flemish "as that we shud bear our
Candel TO her Churchinge at Candlemas with theym
as they doe"
With the Reformation there came n reaction against
the high honor paid the Virgin. John Bale in 1914
complained that it Romish error to beare their
Candels soberly and to offer them to the Saines not
of Gods nakynge, but the Carvers and Payners" and
in the thlrtieth year OF his reign Henry VIII issued
proclamation. saying "On Candemas Daye it shall
lie declared that the bearynGe OF Candles is done In
the memorie OF Christie, the spiritual yghte whom
Simeon dyd prophecye. it Is rcdCe In the Churche
that daye" This brought the festival back TO the old
Greek meaning. In the most ancient pictures and
mosaics Simeon is the figure OF Importance. the
type OF those who recognized and embraced the
Messiah and his song the "Nunc Dimlttis' furnished
one OF the names by which the day known Here
IS sketch from Il byzantine picture which follows eX
actly the old Greek formula for the guidance OF
llgOus painters: The people stand around the golden
censor, simeon holding the child Joseph carrying the
two pigeons for Offering. and the prophecies Anna
standing I'm the background
Simeon. according tradition nearly 300 years
old the time of the Presentation. When Ptoemy
Scriptures for the library at Alexandria about ECO
u. C.. he sent to Eleazar at Jerusalem for scribes
Among those who undertook the work simeon, and
he translated the Book Of Isaiah. When he reached
the prophecy. Behold. virgin shall conceive and
bear a son." he afraid that II might his
religion be looked upon foolish by the Greeks and
so rendered the passage by using Greek word mean.
Ing simply "young woman" Then angel came
and erased the word and put down the proper one.
end twice repeated the alteration After this Simeon
had a vision and received promise that he " should
not see death before he had the Lords Christi;
so he lived and at the Temple on The day
when the Virgin came TO present the Child and en-
bracing Him gave his prophecy.
On Candlemas all Christmas green's must be taken
down. Herrick gives explicit directions in one Of