The word candelaria is of Spanish origin and is resulting from the word candela that means candle. The meaning it conveys is that of the 'Candlemas', a festival that commemorates the appearance of infant Jesus and also the purification of Mary.
The festival is organised every year in the month of February and the ritual that is performed on the day is that of the blessings given to candles.
The mention of the festival can be found in the 7th century in Rome but the earliest reported reference of the festival can be found in the travelling documents of a nun called Egeria about 381-384 AD. In her document Egeria didn't mention the abovementioned name of the festival and certainly the name has been adopted later because of the ritual performed on the day.
The festival is organised every year in the month of February and the ritual that is performed on the day is that of the blessings given to candles.
The mention of the festival can be found in the 7th century in Rome but the earliest reported reference of the festival can be found in the travelling documents of a nun called Egeria about 381-384 AD. In her document Egeria didn't mention the abovementioned name of the festival and certainly the name has been adopted later because of the ritual performed on the day.
