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Candlemas

American

[kan-dl-muhs, -mas] / ˈkæn dl məs, -ˌmæs /

noun

a church festival, February 2, in honor of the presentation of the infant Jesus in the Temple and the purification of the Virgin Mary: candles are blessed on this day.

Candlemas British

/ ˈkændəlməs /

noun

Christianity Feb 2, the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary and the presentation of Christ in the Temple: the day on which the church candles are blessed. In Scotland it is one of the four quarter days

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Candlemas

before 1050; Middle English candelmasse, Old English candelmæsse. See candle, Mass ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It is thought to have evolved from German celebrations of Candlemas on 2 February.

From BBC • Feb. 2, 2025

It’s also a time of year that figures in the Celtic calendar and the Christian holiday of Candlemas.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 30, 2024

The origins of the tradition, as explained by History.com, stem from an ancient Christian celebration called Candlemas where clergy would distribute candles for winter.

From Salon • Feb. 2, 2023

Surviving records show that the idea of weather-predicting animals was introduced during Candlemas festivities held in Germany.

From Fox News • Feb. 1, 2022

The super-dowager of Chatfield had kissed her grandson's wife on Christmas Eve, and when at Candlemas the old lady died Dorothy was sad to think she had not lived to kiss her son.

From The Vanity Girl by MacKenzie, Compton

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023