Yesterday we celebrated the Purification of our Blessed Virgin Mary, Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple.

According to the Mosaic law a mother who had given birth to a man-child was considered unclean for seven days; moreover she was to remain three and thirty days “in the blood of her purification”; for a maid-child the time which excluded the mother from sanctuary was even doubled. When the time (forty or eighty days) was over the mother was to “bring to the temple a lamb for a holocaust and a young pigeon or turtle dove for sin”; if she was not able to offer a lamb, she was to take two turtle doves or two pigeons; the priest prayed for her and so she was cleansed. (Leviticus 12:2-8) source.

Simeon's Song Of Praise - by Aert DeGelder - c1700

Candlemas also brings Christmas to a close! Giving way to the penitential feelings of Septuagesima and then Lent. In the United States it is more common to hear of “Groundhog’s Day” even though Candlemas served the purpose long before the groundhog. The Germans have a saying:

When it storms and snows on Candlemas Day,
Spring is not far away;
if it’s bright and clear,
Spring is not yet near.

So the people here should stop worrying about the snow and cold, and look forward to the beautiful Spring that will soon be here!

In the Mexican culture the person who first finds the infant Jesus inside the Rosca on Dia de Los Reyes is responsible for bringing the tamales and atole (hot chocolate) on Dia de la Candelaria. In European countries it is tradition to serve Crepes.

I really planned to have a get together at our home for this occasion but January was so hectic February 2nd was upon us without me even realizing it! Thankfully, I had yesterday off and we were able to make a impromptu trip to Trip to Ranch Market for tamales. While there, we HAD to share a delicious mouth watering torta, because it’s just what we do when we go to the Ranch Market! Painful sacrifices, yes, but it just has to be done! That place is so amazing!

Since I wasn’t able to make a 2nd attempt at making tamales (an event I haven’t yet blogged about!), I made my first attempt at making Mexican Rice the way Mark taught me but without his help. I have tried to make rice before while in college but it turned out very very bad; most of it burned and stuck to the pan. This time I thought all was lost because I put way too much salt but the rice actually tasted okay! I can’t say much for the texture. If I was trying to feed an old man without teeth it might have been perfect, but I was trying to feed my husband. It was definitely a start though! I’m sure by the time our children are old enough to decipher between good and not so good food I will have it perfected! (Plus I won’t let them eat any one’s rice but mine, not even Mark’s and especially not their abuela’s, that way they will never know any better and always love my cooking! I’m sure my plan will work out perfectly!)

These past eight months the meaningfulness of these holidays has intensified tremendously. Due to the time and location in which I grew up I missed out on a lot of events my ancestors would have put great emphasis on. It is now that I am starting to reacquire those traditions that blur the line between my culture and spirituality. I look forward to all that we will pass on to our children. Today we celebrate these Holy Days as husband and wife, children guided by our Heavenly Father and Mother, but one day we will be able to relate as a mother and father looking to raise our children by Mary and Joseph’s beautiful example!

Ave Maria!