Year 3 Candlemas Assembly

We discovered fascinating facts about Candlemas. Each year the assembly's change along with the facts.

* When this festival celebrated it is the second of February which is the feast of Candlemas. In pre-Christian times, it was the festival of light. This ancient festival marks the point in the winter half way between the winter solstice, the shortest day, and the spring equinox, as the strength of the life-giving sun increases as winter gives way to spring.

* As it is a hinge between winter and spring, people believed that Candlemas predicted the weather for the rest of the winter.

* Candlemas is also called the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple; this was when Jesus and Mary went to the temple for the first time since he was born forty days before.

* In many churches it marks the end of Christmastide, when the very last decorations are taken down. In fact if you forget to get rid of your Christmas tree on the fifth of January you are supposed to keep it until today so that Christmas lasts forty nights.

There are many more traditions which relate to Candlemas. There is an old English rhyme.

If Candlemas day be fair and bright
Winter will have another flight;
If Candlemas Day be clouds and rain
Winter be gone and will not come again.

By O.N and K.E Year 6