Feast of Candelaria
Monday, February 2, 2026
The Feast of Candelaria, also known as Candlemas or the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, is a Christian holiday observed on February 2 that commemorates the presentation of Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem 40 days after his birth. The festival traces its origins to 4th-century Jerusalem, where it was celebrated as early as 386 AD with a procession and a sermon by the pilgrim Egeria. The name 'Candelaria' derives from the traditional blessing of candles on this day, symbolizing Christ as the 'light for revelation to the Gentiles.' The feast marks the conclusion of the Christmas-Epiphany season and is one of the oldest Marian feasts in the Christian liturgical calendar. In the Western Church, Pope Sergius I (687-701) established the candle procession, while in the Eastern Church it is known as Hypapante, meaning 'meeting.' The day also has deep cultural significance in Latin American and Spanish communities, where it marks the end of the Christmas cycle and the beginning of preparations for Carnival.
History
The Feast of Candelaria originates from the biblical account in Luke 2:22-40, where Mary and Joseph presented the infant Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem 40 days after his birth, in accordance with Jewish law. By the 4th century, the feast was being observed in Jerusalem with a solemn procession. The tradition of blessing candles was introduced in the 5th century and became widespread in the Western Church under Pope Sergius I. In 1969, the Catholic Church formally renamed it the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, though it remains widely known as Candlemas. The date also carries pre-Christian significance as the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox (Imbolc in Celtic tradition).
How It's Celebrated
The Feast of Candelaria is observed with the blessing of candles in churches, followed by candlelight processions. In many Latin American countries, particularly Mexico, it is a day when families dress figurines of the infant Jesus in elaborate clothing and present them at church for blessing. It is also traditional to eat tamales on this day, especially those who found the figurine in the Rosca de Reyes on Three Kings' Day. In parts of Europe, crêpes are eaten, and in Puerto Rico, children are traditionally presented with new outfits after the blessing of candles.