Editing Presentation of Jesus (section)

===Practices===
Traditionally, Candlemas had been the last [[feast day]] in the [[Christian year]] that was dated by reference to [[Christmas]]. It is another "epiphany" type feast as Jesus is revealed as the messiah by the canticle of Simeon and the prophetess Anna.<ref>Elliot, Peter J., ''Ceremonies of the Liturgical Year'', Ignatius Press, 2002. {{ISBN|9780898708295}}</ref> It also fits into this theme, as the earliest manifestation of Jesus inside the house of his heavenly Father.<ref name=Toon/> Subsequent [[moveable feast]]s are calculated with reference to [[Easter]].

====Western Christianity====
[[File:Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, stained glass window.jpg|thumb|Presentation of Jesus, c. 1896, [[Church of the Good Shepherd (Rosemont, Pennsylvania)]]]]
Candlemas occurs 40 days after Christmas.

Traditionally, the Western term "Candlemas" (or Candle Mass) referred to the practice whereby a priest on 2 February blessed [[beeswax]] [[candle]]s for use throughout the year, some of which were distributed to the faithful for use in the home. In [[Poland]] the feast is called ''Święto Matki Bożej Gromnicznej'' (Feast of Our Lady of Thunder candles). This name refers to the candles that are blessed on this day, called gromnice, since these candles are lit during (thunder) storms and placed in windows to ward off storms.

This feast has been referred to as the Feast of Presentation of the Lord within the Roman Catholic Church since the liturgical revisions of the [[Second Vatican Council]], with references to candles and the purification of Mary de-emphasised in favor of the Prophecy of [[Simeon (Gospel of Luke)|Simeon the Righteous]]. [[Pope John Paul II]] connected the feast day with the renewal of [[religious vows]]. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple is the fourth Joyful Mystery of the Rosary.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newmanministry.com/saints/presentation-of-jesus-in-the-temple|title=Presentation of Jesus in the Temple &#124; Newman Ministry|website=www.newmanministry.com}}</ref>

In the Liturgy of the Hours, the Marian antiphon ''[[Alma Redemptoris Mater]]'' is used from Advent through 2 February, after which ''[[Ave Regina caelorum|Ave Regina Caelorum]]'' is used through Good Friday.<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01326d.htm Henry, Hugh. "Alma Redemptoris Mater." The Catholic Encyclopedia] Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 5 February 2019</ref>

====Eastern Christianity====
{{More citations needed section|date=January 2011}}
In the [[Byzantine rite|Byzantine tradition]] practised by the [[Eastern Orthodox]], the Meeting of the Lord is unique among the [[Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church|Great Feasts]] in that it combines elements of both a Great Feast of the Lord and a Great Feast of the [[Theotokos]] ([[Mother of God]]). It has a [[forefeast]] of one day, and an [[afterfeast]] of seven days. However, if the feast falls during [[Cheesefare Week]] or [[Great Lent]], the afterfeast is either shortened or eliminated altogether.

The [[holiday]] is celebrated with an [[all-night vigil]] on the eve of the feast, and a celebration of the [[Divine Liturgy]] the next morning, at which beeswax candles are blessed. This blessing traditionally takes place after the [[Little Hours]] and before the beginning of the Divine Liturgy (though in some places it is done after). The priest reads four prayers, and then a fifth one during which all present bow their heads before God. He then [[thurible|censes]] the candles and blesses them with [[Holy water in Eastern Christianity|holy water]]. The candles are then distributed to the people and the Liturgy begins.

It is because of the biblical events recounted in the second chapter of Luke that the [[Churching of Women]] came to be practised in both Eastern and Western Christianity. The usage has mostly died out in the West, except among [[Western Rite Orthodoxy]], very occasionally still among [[Anglicans]], and [[Traditionalist Catholic]]s, but the ritual is still practised in the Orthodox Church. In addition, babies, both boys and girls are taken to the Church on the fortieth day after their birth in remembrance of the Theotokos and Joseph taking the infant Jesus to the Temple.<ref name=goarch/>

Some Christians observe the practice of leaving Christmas decorations up until Candlemas.