Now yes, in several countries, mainly Latin American and among them Mexico, the Christmas season will officially close on February 2 with the celebration of Candelaria Day.
Candlemas Day is a religious holiday that commemorates 2 biblical events: the purification of the Virgin Mary after childbirth as well as the presentation of the baby Jesus in the temple, just 40 days after Christmas.
In some places, this Catholic festival is also called the Fiesta de Luz or Fiesta de las Candelas.
Formerly, in Jerusalem this festivity was carried out by taking lighted candles to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher as part of the presentation of the baby Jesus. Years later, at the end of the 15th century, 2 shepherds found an image of the Virgin Mary on the seashore of the Canary Islands in Spain, which was called Candelaria.
After the apparition and in conjunction with the presentation of the Child Jesus and the Purification of the Virgin, the feast of the Virgin Mary of Candelarias began to be celebrated. This tradition came to America when hundreds of immigrants from the Canary Islands arrived on the continent.
Why in Mexico they eat tamales on Candlemas Day
Traditionally, Mexican families get together on Candlemas Day to eat tamales, which are bought by those who received the baby Jesus in the Rosca de Reyes.
But also, according to data provided by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), the custom of eating tamales on February 2 comes from pre-Hispanic times, since precisely on this day was the beginning of the so-called “atlahualo” or planting period. , where the ancient Indians worshiped Chalchiuhtlicue, goddess of lakes and seas, taking walks along the river and asking for her blessing on corn.
After the conquest and establishment of New Spain, with evangelization it was taken as a basis that in Mesoamerica some ceremonies were already performed where the population prepared tamales to ask the god Tlaloc, the goddess Chalchiuhtlicue and the Tlaloques for good harvests and abundant rain. .
This is how this custom merged with the Catholic tradition of celebrating Candlemas Day with family tamales that remains in force to this day.
It may interest you:
* Mexicans enjoy tamales to celebrate Candlemas Day
* Why in Mexico they look forward to Candlemas Day
* Learn the simplest recipe to make sweet tamales