SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5TH, THE SOLEMNITY OF THE PRESENTATION: CANDLEMAS

This Sunday we have an echo of our Christmas celebrations as we observe the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. Mary and Joseph were observant Jews, and newly delivered mothers were allowed 40 days of rest after the birth of a child, which period ended with a celebration (presentation) in the synagogue or temple. Jesus was so presented, and the encounter with Simeon, Anna, and Jesus's parents is wonderfully recorded in Luke's Gospel. Because of the emphasis on light, as captured in Simeon's acclamation, "For my eyes have seen your salvation, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel," this festival became known as Candlemas. In keeping with ancient custom, candles for use at home will be blessed and distributed this Sunday.

Candlemas's fixed day is February 2nd, a day deemed particularly useful for weather prognostication, falling as it does halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, as this English rhyme has it:

If Candlemas Day be fair and bright,
Winter will have another flight;
But if it be dark with clouds and rain,
Winter is gone, and will not come again.

So, a liturgical experience of the Church aligns with and enhances a secular experience of nature and the changing of the seasons. From this we might also suspect that Punxsutawney Phil could be Episcopalian.