Etymology

Candlemas

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Today it means: The festival in the Christian year celebrated on February 2nd. It commemorates the purification of the Virgin Mary and the presentation of the infant Jesus in the Temple. Full definition →

Middle English Candelmasse ← Old English Candelmæsse
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The story

  1. Old English · inherited fromCandelmæsse
  2. Middle English · inherited fromCandelmasse
  3. English todayCandlemas

From Middle English Candelmasse, from Old English Candelmæsse, equivalent to candle + -mas, following the tradition that the candles to be used in church during the following year are blessed on this day. Compare Old Norse kyndilsmessa (“Candlemas”).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.