Recently, I started researching why so many Latinos in the United States celebrate something called Candlemas Day on February 2nd, and the truth is that the story behind it is quite profound.

To begin with, this celebration held on February 2nd in the United States is not just any religious event. It has roots that date back to the presentation of Jesus in the Temple, when Mary and Joseph took him 40 days after his birth. According to the Gospel of Luke, a man named Simeon took him in his arms and recognized him as the light that would illuminate the nations. That’s where the name Candlemas comes from, because the celebration includes blessings of lit candles.

But what’s interesting is how Mexicans and other Latinos in the U.S. have transformed this. It’s not just religion; it’s a fascinating blend of Christian faith and pre-Hispanic traditions. The February 2nd celebration in the U.S. has that special touch because many families follow the custom of preparing tamales and atole, something that comes from the Aztec calendar where maize was blessed on this date. Some even dress their images of the Child Jesus in different outfits, like doctors, teachers, or soccer players, to take them to be blessed at church.

In Mexico, this tradition is connected to the Rosca de Reyes. Whoever finds the baby Jesus figurine in the bread has the responsibility to make tamales and atole to share. It’s a way to keep that ancestral connection alive while honoring their faith.

In Spain, it’s also important, especially in the Canary Islands, where there are parades and celebrations that last several days at the Basilica of Our Lady of Candelaria. Devotion to this Virgin spread from there to the American continent starting in the 16th century.

What I find remarkable is that February 2nd also marks the purification of the Virgin Mary, according to tradition. So, the celebration combines the presentation of Jesus with Mary’s purification, both occurring 40 days after childbirth.

For Latinos in the United States, keeping this tradition alive is a way to preserve their cultural and spiritual identity. It’s not just going to church; it’s an entire experience that connects generations and blends the sacred with the everyday.