Candlemas Day
Preserved but no longer current.
February 2nd, the feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary, when Christ was presented by her in the Temple; one of the quarter days in Scotland. In Catholic churches all the candles which will be needed in the church during the year are consecrated on this day; they symbolize Jesus Christ, called "the light of the world, and "a light to lighten the Gentiles.' The Romans had a custom of burning candles to scare away evil spirits.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Candlemas Day” mean?
February 2nd, the feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary, when Christ was presented by her in the Temple; one of the quarter days in Scotland. In Catholic churches all the candles which will be needed in the church during the year are consecrated on this day; they symbolize Jesus Christ, called "the light of the world, and "a light to lighten the Gentiles.' The Romans had a custom of burning candles to scare away evil spirits.
Is “Candlemas Day” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.