February 2, Mexico celebrates Dia de la Candelaria (Candlemas)

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Día de la Candelaria is a follow-up to the festivities of Día de Los Reyes, on January 6th, when children receive gifts and family and friends break bread together. … The bread has a baby figurine hidden inside.

The Christmas Season in Mexico ends on el Día de la Candelaria, Candlemass Day, celebrated every February 2. Candlemas commemorates the ritual purification of Mary, 40 days after the birth of Jesus’ birth. This day also celebrates the ritual presentation of baby Jesus to God in the Temple at Jerusalem.

CandlemasCandlemas, also called Presentation of the Lord or Presentation of Christ in the Temple or Hypapante, Christian festival on February 2 commemorating the occasion when the Virgin Mary, in obedience to Jewish law, went to the Temple in Jerusalem both to be purified 40 days after the birth of her son, Jesus.

Every year on February 2nd Mexico celebrates the Día de la Candelaria, or Candlemas, where the “child is raised” from the nativity scene and the figures or images of him are taken to the church to be blessed.

As we said before, Día de la Candelaria is a follow-up to the festivities of King’s Day and Tamales are the food of choice. Mexican tamales (tamal is the Mexican “singular” use of the word) are packets of corn dough with a Beef, Chicken or Bean filling and typically wrapped in corn husks or banana leaves.