Discover the Candelaria Festival in Catalonia

The Candlemas Festivals are celebrations that take place in different municipalities of Catalonia, especially in Molins de Rei, around February 2, which is Candlemas Day. La Candelaria has religious and popular roots and stands out for various activities and traditions.

This religious festival takes place forty days after Christmas and commemorates the presentation of Jesus in the temple of Jerusalem. According to Jewish tradition, mothers had to wait this period of forty days after childbirth for purification, before presenting the baby to the religious authorities.

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 the year 496.

Despite its religious nature, this festival has previous roots, possibly of pagan origin. Some believe that it could be an heir to ancient Roman customs associated with the Parentalia, which included candlelight processions. However, the meaning of Candlemas was completely different, perhaps serving as a tribute to the souls of the deceased.

Until recently, churches commemorated this feast with processions similar to those it is believed Mary might have made after the forty-day period. These processions were led mainly by women, especially those who had recently become mothers, bringing large lit candles.

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

For all these reasons, and for concluding the Christmas cycle, Candlemas occupies a prominent place in the festive calendar. For the most purists of tradition, they consider that the manger or Christmas decorations cannot be removed until that date.