Candlemas, celebrated on February 2, is a festival that dates from the middle ages, signifying the end of the Christmas season.

It was celebrated in Medieval England with feasts and the blessing of candles which were then used in churches during the upcoming year.  Candles were to made of pure beeswax and lighted with wooden matches.

This festival commemorates the presentation of Jesus at the Temple of Jerusalem and his role as a light to enlighten the nations.

We celebrate this feast with two events:

Light & Peace: An evening of candlelight and sacred chant. Saturday 4th February at St Collen’s. From 6-8pm you are invited to come and go as you please. Pause | Reflect | Pray

Snowdrops Blessing Service: at St Tysilio’s on Sunday 5th February at 3pm. 

The themes of purity, light and intricate beauty have longed linked the snowdrop to the great feast of Candlemas. This is why the snowdrop has been known as the Candlemas Bell. It was the practice from medieval times to bring snowdrops into the church at Candlemas to evoke that sense of reverence and presentation and offering.