NonWorkingDays
Search

Religious holiday · 2031

Candlemas 2031

Candlemas falls on Sunday, 2 February 2031 in the 1 countries that observe it.

Dates by country

Candlemas 2031 by country
CountryDateLocal name
LiechtensteinSun 2 FebweekendMariä Lichtmess

What is Candlemas?

Candlemas is the Christian feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, described in the Gospel of Luke. Forty days after his birth, Mary and Joseph brought the infant Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem, in keeping with Jewish law, and there Simeon and the prophetess Anna recognised him. The Catholic Church long called it the Purification of Mary, and the Eastern churches call it the Meeting of the Lord, from the meeting of Simeon with the child.

The name Candlemas comes from the blessing of candles on the day, a ritual that symbolises Christ as the light of the world, from Simeon's words that he would be a light for the Gentiles. In France the day is La Chandeleur and crêpes are made, and according to tradition they bring luck for the year if the cook flips one with a coin in the other hand. The German name is Mariä Lichtmess. In Liechtenstein, 2 February is a public holiday and church services include the blessing of candles.

Why it is observed

The feast was kept in Jerusalem in the late fourth century, as the pilgrim Egeria describes, on the fortieth day after Epiphany, 14 February. In the West, where Christmas was fixed on 25 December, it fell on 2 February, forty days later, and spread there from the seventh century. A candlelit procession in Rome is attributed to Pope Sergius I at the end of that century, and the blessing of candles was added later. In German rural life, Candlemas ended the servants' year, the day when farm servants received their wages and could change employers. German weather lore about the sun on Candlemas is the source of the American Groundhog Day.

How the date is set

Candlemas is fixed on 2 February, forty days after Christmas Day. Orthodox churches that use the Julian calendar keep the Meeting of the Lord on the same Julian date, which falls on 15 February in the civil calendar.

How it is observed

In Liechtenstein, Candlemas is a public holiday: banks, offices, schools and most shops close. In most other countries it is a normal working day, even where it is celebrated in church. In France crêpes are eaten on 2 February, though it is not a holiday, and in Luxembourg the children's custom of Liichtmëssdag is marked without a day off. Pay and time off depend on the country and the contract.

Sources

Questions

Good to know

When is Candlemas in 2031?

Sunday, 2 February 2031 in all 1 countries that observe it (Liechtenstein).

Which countries observe Candlemas?

In our coverage: Liechtenstein. Only holidays that apply across a whole country are counted.

Why is Candlemas observed?

The feast was kept in Jerusalem in the late fourth century, as the pilgrim Egeria describes, on the fortieth day after Epiphany, 14 February. In the West, where Christmas was fixed on 25 December, it fell on 2 February, forty days later, and spread there from the seventh century. A candlelit procession in Rome is attributed to Pope Sergius I at the end of that century, and the blessing of candles was added later. In German rural life, Candlemas ended the servants' year, the day when farm servants received their wages and could change employers. German weather lore about the sun on Candlemas is the source of the American Groundhog Day.

How is the date of Candlemas set?

Candlemas is fixed on 2 February, forty days after Christmas Day. Orthodox churches that use the Julian calendar keep the Meeting of the Lord on the same Julian date, which falls on 15 February in the civil calendar.