The Presentation of the Lord (Candlemas)

On 2 February, forty days after Christmas, the Church celebrates the Presentation of the Lord. As the law of Moses asked, Mary and Joseph brought their firstborn son to the Temple, and two faithful people, Simeon and Anna, recognized him as the one all God’s people had been waiting for. Simeon called him a light for all peoples. Their whole story is in the lesson “Waiting for the Savior”; today we look at the light, and at how Spanish-speaking families keep this day.

On this day the Church blesses candles and carries them in procession, which is why the feast is called Candlemas, and in Spanish la Candelaria, from candela, which means candle. A lit candle is a sign of what Simeon said: Jesus is a light that shines for everyone. Jesus later said it himself, that he is the light of the world. It is also why a candle is lit at every Baptism, from the Easter candle, and given to the newly baptized to keep the light of Christ burning.

In Mexico, the Candelaria closes the Christmas season. On 6 January, whoever finds the little baby Jesus in the rosca promises to host the party. On 2 February, many families dress their Niño Dios in new clothes and take him to church to be blessed, with candles. Then the finder invites everyone to tamales. And then, in many homes, the nacimiento is put away until next Advent. Gathering, being blessed and sharing a meal is a happy way to say goodbye to Christmas.

There is one more thing about the light. Jesus told his followers that they, too, are the light of the world. A candle that is lit does not lose anything by lighting another: its light only grows. When we are kind, honest and generous, we pass on Jesus’ light, and that is what a Candlemas candle is for.