Feb 2, the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary and the presentation of Christ in the Temple: the day on which the church candles are blessed. In Scotland it is one of the four quarter days
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
Can•dle•mas
(kan′dl məs, -mas′),USA pronunciation n.
- Religiona church festival, February 2, in honor of the presentation of the infant Jesus in the Temple and the purification of the Virgin Mary: candles are blessed on this day. Also called Can′dlemas Day′.
- Middle English candelmasse, Old English candelmæsse. See candle, -mas bef. 1050
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'Candlemas' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):