In the Anglican (and Roman Catholic) calendar today is Candlemas, or the Presentation of the Lord at the Temple. In the northern hemisphere this ancient festival marks the midpoint of winter, halfway between the shortest day and the spring equinox. The Christmas season once lasted for forty days - until the second day of February, and Candlemas marked the end of that season. The name Candlemas comes from the tradition that all the candles that were to be used in the church during the coming year were brought into church and blessed. So it was the Festival Day (or 'mass') of the Candles . Candles were very important as the main means of providing light. They were also thought to give protection against plague and illness and famine. For Christians, they were (and still are) a reminder that Christ is ‘The light of the World' - and candles are lit during church services to remind us of this. However we are going to follow the more Protestant RCL lectionary readings f...