a Christian holy day, February 2nd, which celebrates when Jesus Christ was brought to the temple, and the purification (=making pure) of his mother Mary. (February 2) In the Christian church, the celebration of the presentation of the infant Jesus and the post-childbirth purification of Mary in the Temple, in accordance with Jewish law. The Greek church calls it Hypapante ("Meeting") in reference to Jesus' meeting there with Simeon, to whom it had been revealed that he would not die before meeting the Messiah. The festival is first documented in Jerusalem in the late 4th century; the custom of observing it with lighted candles (the source of its name) dates to at least the mid-5th century. The popular nonreligious holiday Groundhog Day developed, in part, from the medieval tradition that certain animals interrupted their hibernation on this day
feast day commemorating the presentation of Christ in the temple; a quarter day in Scotland
The second day of February, on which is celebrated the feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary; so called because the candles for the altar or other sacred uses are blessed on that day
candlemas
Heceleme
Can·dle·mas
Telaffuz
Etimoloji
[ 'kan-d&l-m& ] (noun.) before 12th century. From candle + -mas, following the tradition that the candles to be used in church during the following year are blessed on this day