Old English candelmæsse (from candle + mass (n.2)), feast of the purification of the Virgin Mary (Feb. 2), celebrated with many candles, corresponding to Celtic pagan Imbolc. if (window.googletag) {googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('dcomMobileSERPDisplayTopAd-300x250'); });} else {console.error('googletag not defined, dcomMobileSERPDisplayTopAd-300x250');}