On February 2, the Catholic Church celebrates the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, popularly known as Candlemas. Forty days after Christmas, the anniversary marks the moment in which Mary and Joseph brought the child to the Temple of Jerusalem, where the old Simeon recognized him as “a light to illuminate the people”. From this evangelical episode comes the profound connection between the celebration and candles, symbol of Christ, the light of the world.
The city of Rome, the heart of Christianity, experiences the Candlemas rite as a deeply felt liturgical event, capable of mobilizing the faithful throughout the city through a simple yet meaningful gesture, the famous blessing of the candles.
The great Roman basilicas, guardians of tradition
The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore is one of the most important places for the celebration of Capitoline Candlemas. Among the four papal basilicas and historically linked to the Marian cult, Santa Maria Maggiore hosts solemn celebrations in which the blessing of the candles precedes the morning mass. The Marian iconography that adorns the building integrates perfectly with the meaning of the festival, which also commemorates Mary’s purification according to Jewish law.
As regards the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano, cathedral of Rome and “mother of all churches”, it gives Candlemas a particularly community dimension. Here the faithful arrive bringing their own candles or receive them at the entrance of the basilica, immediately before giving life to a procession full of charm, in which the glow of the candles will run along the naves of the oldest church in the Christian West.
Even St. Peter’s Basilica, the heart of world Catholicism, honors Candlemas with solemn functions. Pontifical celebrations, when present, attract pilgrims from all over the world, an aspect that transforms the blessing of the candles into a moment of universal communion.
Candlemas in the neighborhood parishes
In addition to the large basilicas, the blessing of candles finds its most genuine expression in the numerous Roman parishes. Neighborhood churches such as those dedicated to Santa Maria – from the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere to Santa Maria in Cosmedin – keep the ancient tradition alive with celebrations that are certainly more intimate but no less significant.
Many parish communities organize the blessing in ways that respect the traditional liturgy as much as possible: the faithful bring the candles they will use during the year from home, have them blessed during mass and bring them home as sacred objects. In some historic neighborhoods such as Trastevere, Testaccio and Monti, the practice still involves entire families.
The “good candle”: protection and hope
In the Roman dialect, the candle blessed on February 2nd is affectionately called “candela bona”. An expression that embodies centuries of popular religiosity: the candle is not just a liturgical object, but becomes a protective presence in the home. Tradition wanted it to be lit during summer storms, which in Rome can be particularly violent, or in times of illness, family difficulties and general despondency.
