By Patrick O'Boyle, Esq.
A Pasca Epifania "tutt'e ffeste vanno via". Risponne 'a Cannelora : "No, ce stongo io ancora" – (Easter said to Epiphany, "Now all the holidays are gone," and Candlemas spoke up and said, "I'm still here!") – Old Neapolitan saying.
In Italy, February 2nd is traditionally the feast of Candelora, a day which received its name since preceding Mass on this former holy day of obligation, there is the traditional blessing and procession of beeswax candles for the feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a day which celebrates the Presentation of Christ in the Temple forty days after Christmas. The special blessing of candles on this day was the cause of the feast being named Candlemas in Medieval England, the name by which this special day is known in the Anglophonic world. For centuries it was considered the final day of the Christmas Season.
Source: https://niafblog.wordpress.com/
