Candlemas

[ kan-dl-muh s, -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.

Also called Candlemas Day.

Origin of Candlemas

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

Example sentences from the Web for candlemas

Mother, wilt thou sing me a song as thou dost every Candlemas?

Sir Christopher |Maud Wilder Goodwin
On Candlemas Day (the second day of February) there was a grand festival on the ice.

The Nursery, July 1881, Vol. XXX |Various
People in Scotland also prognosticated the weather of the coming season, according to whether Candlemas was clear or foul.

The Mysteries of All Nations |James Grant
Our Candlemas is also an old Roman feast: neither the date nor the ceremony altered one tittle.

The Cloister and the Hearth |Charles Reade

I am glad yet, that I have carried a holy candle on Candlemas Day.

It Might Have Been |Emily Sarah Holt

British Dictionary definitions for candlemas

Candlemas

/ (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

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

Candlemas

noun

Origin of Candlemas

Example sentences from the Web for candlemas

British Dictionary definitions for candlemas

noun