Candlemas

**Candlemas**, alias de **Mary**, anaa de **Feast of de Holy Encounter**, be sam Christian holiday wey dey commemorate de presentation of Jesus for de Temple. Ebe based upon de account of de presentation of Jesus for Luke 2:22–40 insyd. Under Leviticus 12, na dem for purify sam woman by say dem go present lamb as burnt offering, den either sam young pigeon anaa dove as sin offering, 33 days afta sam boy ein circumcision. Edey fall for 2 February top, wey traditionally be de 40th day (postpartum period) of den de conclusion of de Christmas–Epiphany season. While ebe customary give Christians for sam countries say dem go comot demma Christmas decorations for Twelfth Night (Epiphany Eve) top, menners wey dey oda Christian countries historically dey remove dem afta Candlemas. For Candlemas top, chaw Christians (especially Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholics, den sam mainline Protestant denominations wey dey include Lutherans, Anglicans den Methodists) too dey take demma candles dey go demma local church, wer dem dey bless dem den use for de rest of de year; for Christians, dese candles wey dem dey bless dey serve as symbol of Jesus Christ, who be Light of de World.

## Ein History
De Feast of de Presentation anaa Purification be one of de oldest feasts of de church. De pilgrim Egeria record how dem celebrate am for Jerusalem for de 380s insyd:

## Ein Customs

### France den Belgium
Catholic churches wey dey France, Belgium, den Swiss Romandy dey celebrate Candlemas (French: *La Chandeleur*, Dutch: *Maria-Lichtmis*) for 2 February. Tradition dey talk say dem for nor put away manger scenes till Candlemas, wey be de last feast of de Christmas cycle.

### Germany
Na Candlemas be sam important date *(Lostag)* for de year insyd. Na ebe associated plus payment deadlines, fixed employment relationships, den de beginning of de "farmer's year". For addition, chaw customs, weather proverbs, oda sayings, den rhymes be related for dis feast insyd.

### Luxembourg
Sam descendant of sam ancient torchlight procession, de current tradition of *Liichtmëssdag* for Luxembourg be sam holiday wey dey children demma body. For small groups insyd, dem dey roam for de streets for afternoon insyd anaa evening of 2 February, wey dem dey hold sam lighted lantern anaa homemade wand, singing traditional songs for each house anaa store, especially "Léiwer Härgottsblieschen". For exchange for de music insyd, dem dey hope say dem go receive sam reward for de form of sweets anaa loose change (formerly bacon, peas, anaa biscuits).

### Puerto Rico
Dis festivity officially dey finalize de end of Christmas for Catholics for Puerto Rico insyd; de festivities dey include sam procession wer de statue of Nuestra Señora de Candelaria (Our Lady of de Light) dem dey carry am for demma shoulders top. Odas dey follow plus lit candles till dem go reach de church wer dem dey celebrate sam mass. For evening insyd, de festivities may continue plus sam giant bonfire den singing. Sam families for de countryside dey burn demma dried Christmas trees for dis date top as sam culmination of de holiday season.

### Canary Islands den Philippines
*La Virgen de la Candelaria* or Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Our Lady of Light anaa Our Lady of Candles), wey dem popularly dey bell am *La Morenita*, dey celebrate de Virgin Mary for de island of Tenerife top, one of de Canary Islands (Spain). Our Lady of Light be de patron saint of de Canary Islands. De Basilica of Candelaria wey dey Candelaria insyd, dem dey consider Tenerife say ebe de main church wey dem dedicate give de Virgin Mary den sam Basilica minor since 2009. Dem dey celebrate feast for 2 February (Candlemas, *Fiesta de la Candelaria*) den 15 August as de patronal feast of de Canary Islands.

For Philippines insyd, Our Lady of Candles sana be de patroness give Western Visayas region. For Silang insyd, Cavite, dem dey observe de feast locally as sam triduum from 1 go 3 February, plus 2 February as de actual feast day.[*citation needed*]

### Guatemala
De Virgin of Candles be de patron saint give Jacaltenango, wey ein feast dey mark de end of de Christmas season.

## References