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February
Gemstone: Amethyst
Flower: Primrose
The Romans and the Celts regarded February as the start of spring.
Gemstone: Amethyst
Flower: Primrose
The Romans and the Celts regarded February as the start of spring.
Candlemas Day (The Christian festival of lights)
2nd February is Candlemas Day. The ancient festival marks the midpoint of winter, halfway between the shortest day and the spring equinox. In olden times, many people used to say that the Christmas season lasted for forty days – until the second day of February.
Candlemas is a traditional Christian festival that commemorates the ritual purification of Mary forty days after the birth of her son Jesus. On this day, Christians remember the presentation of Jesus Christ in the Temple. Forty days after the birth of a Jewish boy it was the custom to take him to the temple in Jerusalem to be presented to God by his thankful parents.
It was the day of the year when all the candles that were used in the church during the coming year, were brought into the church and a blessing was said over them so it was the Festival Day (or 'mass') of the Candles.
Candles were important in those days, not only because there was no electric lights. Some people thought they gave protection against plague and illness and famine. For Christians they were (and still are) a reminder of something even more important. Before Jesus came to earth it was as if everyone was in the dark. People often felt lost and lonely. Afraid. As if they were on their own with no one to help them. Then came Jesus with his message that he is, with his followers, always ready to help and comfort them. As if he is a guiding light to them in the darkness. Christians often talk of Jesus as the light of the world – and candles are lit during church services to remind Christians of this.
The Legend of the Snowdrop
The flower called snowdrop appears in February and is a symbol of hope. According to legend, the snowdrop became the symbol of hope when Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden. When Eve was about to give up hope that the cold winters would never end an angel appeared. She transformed some of the snowflakes into snowdrop flowers, proving that winters do eventually give way to spring.
Source: Project Britain