Candlemas Day France

Candlemas Day France

November, December, January, February… in France, the cold and grey iciness settles for a long term whilst the climate, gloomy and tough, forces the plant life right into a properly earned pause. Bushes are leafless, their trunks of a dark-grey color, and relying at the sky, snow and ice cowl whole regions, disrupting human interest. Once the cheerful Christmas and New yr’s celebrations have long past, the long months of January and February aren't a season one especially anticipates in Europe (except for shopaholics attracted to the large income!). Therefore, considering ancient times, French (and ecu) traditions have marked the beginning of February with light-hearted celebrations, followed by using scrumptious treats.

In France, the month of February starts offevolved with the celebration of Candlemas – l.  A. Chandeleur – which occurs on the second, that's 40 days after Christmas. This non secular celebration remembers the Presentation of Jesus to the Temple, a decisive occasion that befell in the course of the early years of Jesus and is described in the Bible (Gospel of Luke chapter 2 verses 22-40).

The origins of the Chandeleur date again to a pagan ceremonial dinner: consistent with nearby customs, candles had to be lit at nighttime as a image of purification. Chandeleur comes from the latin “candelarum” as does the English word ‘candle’.

The Church tailored the subculture into the blessing of the candles, which were to repel Evil, as a consequence reminding all that Christ is the light of the arena. Christians would then come returned to their houses with the blessed candles so one can protect them.

It become additionally at that point of the yr that the winter seed-time began. The surplus flour became then used without too much danger of scarcity and crêpes had been made as a image of prosperity for the approaching yr.