Adjacent Words

Candlemas definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

CANDLEMAS, n. The feast of the church celebrated on the second day of February, in honor of the purification of the Virgin Mary; so called from the great number of lights used on that occasion. This feast is supposed to have originated in the declaration of Simeon, that our Savior was to be a light to lighten the Gentiles. On this day, the Catholics consecrate all the candles and tapers which are to be used in their churches during the whole year. In Rome, the pope performs the ceremony himself, and distributes wax candles to the cardinals and others, who carry them in procession through the great hall of the popes palace. The ceremony was prohibited in England by an order of council in 1548. But candlemas is one of the four terms for paying and receiving rents and interest; and it gives name to a law term, beginning Jan. 15, and ending Feb. 3.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: feast day commemorating the presentation of Christ in the temple; a quarter day in Scotland [syn: Candlemas, Candlemas Day, Feb 2]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English candelmasse, from Old English candelmęsse, from candel + męsse mass, feast; from the candles blessed and carried in celebration of the feast Date: before 12th century February 2 observed as a church festival in commemoration of the presentation of Christ in the temple and the purification of the Virgin Mary

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. a feast with blessing of candles (2 Feb.), commemorating the Purification of the Virgin Mary and the presentation of Christ in the Temple. Etymology: OE Candelmæsse (as CANDLE, MASS(2))

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Candlemas Can"dle*mas, n. [AS. candelm[ae]sse, candel candle + m[ae]sse mass.] 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.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. February 2.