At the beginning of January there were a few articles reminding the general population that the Christmas celebrations had not ended on 2nd or 3rd of January. The writings actually sought to remind their readers incorrectly that Twelfth Night (the 6th January) when the Feast of the Epiphany is celebrated is the end of Christmas. Epiphany as you know is the day, that we in the Western Church, officially celebrate the arrival of the Magi to the temporary accommodation of the Holy Family. Actually, some months or years after the actual birth date of the Holy Child. Our scriptures are a bit vague on the actual timings.
Epiphany used to be the day that Christmas gifts were given, echoing the gifts of the Magi. In the Eastern or Orthodox Church this remains the tradition and Epiphany is the major Christmas celebration. It used to be that way for us and some people still call Epiphany; ‘Old Christmas Day’. In Spain the tradition of gift giving at Epiphany still survives and like the Orthodox, it is a big celebration day for the Spaniards with processions and Magi riding into town accompanied by Santa Claus as well! Liturgical and Calendar revisions in our Church are to blame for the shift from 6th January to the 25th December.
All this aside, according to the media, goes to prove that Epiphany is the end of Christmas and not New Year. The media, are however, wrong!
It is the Feast of Candle-mass that is actually the end of the Christmas season of celebration. It is the reason why our church remains in White or Gold until 2nd February rather than reverting to the Green of Epiphany Sundays. The 2nd February is the 40th day after Christmas Day and Christmastide like Eastertide is 40 days long. This is to emphasise the importance of the Feast of Christ’s Nativity - the birth of our Saviour, just as we keep the 40 days of Lent and Eastertide to emphasise the self-giving and resurrection of Christ as our Saviour.
There is evidence of it being a custom to keep up Christmas decorations until February 2. Robert Herrick (1591-1674) has a poem entitled Ceremony Upon Candlemas Eve which describes this tradition:
Down with the rosemary, and so
Down with the bays and misletoe;
Down with the holly, ivy, all
Wherewith ye dress'd the Christmas hall;
That so the superstitious find
No one least branch there left behind;
For look, how many leaves there be
Neglected there, maids, trust to me,
So many goblins you shall see.
None of us will wish to see goblins so I hope that all your decorations will be down by the 2nd February. Mind you if your tree is still up you could be knee deep in pine needles by now and if you live in Palmerston Place there is flat person where the Christmas decorations remain up all year! I wonder if the flat is troubled by goblins?
40 days of Christmas-tide celebration seek to remind us of the importance of Jesus’ birth and that it should be something we rejoice in greatly. Without his birth there would be no Easter Day and proof of our redemption. Although Easter is the primary celebration of our faith, Christmas comes a close second.
Candlemass was once celebrated with much pomp and the candles for the coming year were blessed in the crib. We will later be blessing our candles but on the altar not in the crib as a sign of the light of Christ born into our world and ‘lightening the darkness’ as the Nunc Dimitis says.
Today as the readings remind us is all about recognising who Jesus is and seeing his light shining in the darkness. The first reading from the rarely read Prophet Malachi predicts the coming of the Messiah and the part to be played by John-the-Baptist. It comes, however, with a warning though that unless we meet the Messiah with an open heart and generosity of spirit towards others then we will be harshly judged by him.
St.Luke continues in this vein by relating the story of Jesus’ presentation in the temple and his Mother’s purification or ‘Churching’ after childbirth. It was the Jewish tradition to make sacrifice in thanksgiving for the birth of a son. the two elderly temple dwellers have been told by God that they will live to see their Messiah and when they clap eyes on the Holy Family, God alerts them to the fact that here is the Messiah. They rejoice and give thanks knowing that their waiting is over. They also predict that the child will have a turbulent life but that he will save those who believe who he is. These two pensioners see the light of Christ and it shines brightly for them in their darkness.
It is, perhaps, the unknown author of the Epistle to the Hebrews who best sums today up when they say:
“14 Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. 16For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. 17Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. 18Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.”
Hebrews 2:14-18
Jesus the man, born human and divine so that by knowing who life is for us he can save us. Jesus is our light in the world and his light will shine for eternity. No wonder we call this feast Candlemass for although they are a poor substitute for the person of Jesus, they are still a powerful symbol of what he shows and offers to us his fellow but flawed human beings.
What a way to end Christmas acknowledging that Jesus is the light of the world and our Saviour.