What is Michaelmas? Candlemas?

Question

Thanks!

Answer 1

Michaelmas is the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel.

Candlemas is the Feast of the Purification....where the candles for the blessing of throats on St. Blaise Day are blessed.

Answer 2

Michaelmas is the feast of St. Michael and All Angels. It is a holy day in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Anglican churches, observed on September 29th. Most holy days are observances of the saints. This is the only one devoted to angels, so it includes the other archangels in addition to Michael: Gabriel, Raphael and Uriel. All lesser angels are also included.

Candlemas is an old name for the catholic and anglican feast held on February 2nd. To Christians, the day represents the Presentation of Mary in the Temple (also called the Purification of Mary -- that is according to Jewish Law, 50 days after the birth of a male child). It is called Candlemas because, in medieval times, candles to be used in churches for the next year would be brought into the church and blessed on this day.

Secuarly, February 2nd is groundhog day. You know the weather connection: if the groundhog sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. A similar saying is, "If Candlemas if fair and clear, two winters in one year."

On the Celtic calendar, February 2nd is one of the "cross-quarter" days, that is, between solstice and equinox. The celts and druids had important festivals four times a year on these days: Samhain (halloween), Imbolc (candlemas), Beltane (May day), and Lughnasagh (August 1st).

That's probably more answer than you want. Hope it helps.

Answer 3

I wasn't going to answer, since you've got some great answers, however, I have to respond to Kithy.

The Roman Catholics took both Michaelmas and Candlemas from the Pagans. The Celtic festival of Imbolc was held on February 2nd. They light a lot of CANDLES to remind them that the sun will be returning, because mid-February supplies started running very low and it was easy to think that spring would never come.

Michaelmas just happens to fall very close to Mabon, the Autumnal Equinox, when Pagans celebrated the second perfectly balanced day of the year.

Pagans came first - not modern pagans, but the people we base our beliefs on. So Roman Catholics took the dates from them, not the other way around. Sorry to disappoint you.

)O(

Answer 4

Michaelmas is the feast of St Michael the Archangel. Candlemas is a purification rite/feast which was started by the Roman Catholic Church then later used by Wicca and other Pagan Paths in similar fashion. (Most Wiccans and Pagans don't realize how much they get from the Roman Catholic Church)

Answer 5

Usually a "something"mas is a mass celebrated for the person named. Such as a Michaelmas would be in celebration of St Michael, or a Christmas would be a celebration of Christ.

The Candlemas is a mass in honor of the Virgin Mary to celebrate her presenting the Christ child at the temple when he was eight days old.

Answer 6

Religious days.