From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Candlemas \Can"dle*mas\, noun [AS. candelm[ae]sse, candel candle + m[ae]sse mass.] The second day of February, on which is celebrated the feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary; -- so called because the candles for the altar or other sacred uses are blessed on that day.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
noun
1: feast day commemorating the presentation of Christ in the temple; a quarter day in Scotland [syn: {Candlemas Day}, {Feb 2}]
Define.com is a registered nonprofit corporation dedicated solely to the global public interest and the advancement of humanity. It belongs to all of us who have a desire to promote electronic democracy, science, creativity, imagination, reason, critical thinking, peace, race and gender equality, civil rights, equal access to education, personal liberty, free speech, animal rights, compassionate and nonviolent parenting, social and economic justice, global monetary reform, Secular Humanism, cognitive liberty and a permanent cessation of The War on Drugs.
Let's see what we can do if we put our heads together.
0