Discover the Candelaria Festival in Catalonia

The Candelaria Festivals are celebrations that take place in various municipalities in Catalonia around February 2nd, Candlemas Day. Particularly noteworthy are the Candelaria Fair in Molins de Rei and the Decennial Festivals of the Virgin of Candelaria, held every ten years in Valls.

In Calafell, the Candlemas celebration has a unique feature: instead of a procession with the Virgin of Candelaria, there is one with the Virgin of the Cave, a devotion deeply rooted in the town. This illustrates how each community adapts the festival to its local traditions.

Candlemas has religious and popular roots and is known for its diverse activities and traditions. The name Candlemas comes from the tradition, instituted by Pope Sergius I, of holding a candlelit procession.

Although originally celebrated on February 14th, forty days after Epiphany, this religious holiday now takes place forty days after Christmas and commemorates the presentation of Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem. According to Jewish tradition, mothers were required to wait this forty-day period after childbirth for purification before presenting their baby to religious authorities; the forty days represented the waiting period before officially registering a newborn, a practice motivated by the high infant mortality rate of that era.

This ritual involved an offering and the blessing of wax candles. Candlemas is one of the oldest celebrations dedicated to the Virgin Mary, introduced by Pope Gelasius I in 496.

Despite its religious nature, this festival has earlier roots, possibly of pagan origin. Some believe it may have inherited ancient Roman customs associated with the Parentalia, which included candlelit processions. However, the meaning of Candlemas was entirely different, perhaps serving as a tribute to the souls of the deceased.

Until recently, churches commemorated this feast with processions similar to those believed to have been led by Mary after her forty-day period of prayer. These processions were primarily led by women, especially new mothers, carrying large, lit candles.

Candlemas is considered one of the many festivals of light, and it is believed that candles blessed on this day have protective virtues.

For all these reasons, and because it marks the end of the Christmas season, Candlemas holds a prominent place in the festive calendar. According to popular tradition, the Nativity scene and Christmas decorations should not be taken down until Candlemas, the day that symbolically closes the Christmas cycle.

Historically, February 2nd has also been considered a date to anticipate weather conditions, as it represents the exact midpoint between the beginning and end of winter, which is why the town has turned this day into a weather forecasting observatory.

Candlemas has also left behind some popular sayings:

Some old dictionaries list as the sole definition of "candelaria" a plant with yellow flowers to which medicinal properties were attributed. This coincidence with the proverb "When Candlemas blooms, winter is over" reinforces the possible symbolic connection between light, flowering, and the end of winter.