Candlemas, when the infant Christ is presented in the Temple and candles are blessed as a sign of his light.
Dates
| Year | Dates | Reckoning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | February 2, 2025 | ||
| 2026 | February 2, 2026 |
Recurrence: Gregorian fixed date.
Significance
The Presentation of the Lord, on February 2, recalls Mary and Joseph bringing the infant Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem, forty days after his birth, where Simeon and Anna recognised him. The day is also called Candlemas, for the blessing and procession of candles that mark Christ as the light of the world. It stands forty days after Christmas and closes the cycle of the infancy feasts.
Observance
Candles are blessed and carried in procession, and the liturgy recalls Simeon's recognition of the child in the Temple.