While most folks around the US turn their attention to the groundhog on February 2nd, this date also has a history as a Celtic festival that celebrated the lengthening days of the year and the coming of spring. Candlemas was one of the four days of the year representing a quarter of the calendar, and it was on these days the Celts practiced their Sabbaths. In Ireland and Scotland, these four days were celebrated as fire-feasts.

Later, Christianity sort of took on this holiday as it did with many other pagan holidays. In Roman Catholic churches, candlemas became the day when all the candles to be used during the year. These candles were considered symbols for Christ as the light of the world.

It was also called Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, because the Catholics believed a woman was un-pure for six weeks after giving birth and this date would have been about six weeks after the birth of Christ at the winter solstice.

Related reading: A Brief History of Candles and Candle Making.