Candlemas

Candlemas and also known as the Feast of Candelaria, the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary or the Feast of the Holy Encounter or the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ, this is a Christian holiday commemorating the presentation of the baby Jesus in the Temple, as described in the New Testament, and is associated with the end of the Christmas season. The holiday is celebrated with religious services, processions, and other festivities, and is a time for reflection and renewal. Candles are lit and blessed in church, and people often take part in candlelit processions to symbolise the light of Christ. Candlemas is an important religious holiday in all majority Christian countries. It is a national public holiday in Liechtenstein.