Candlemas
is associated with many acts of purification. The following
are well known traditional acts of purification and renewal.
- Removing
Yuletide greens from home & burning them (Celtic)
- Cleaning
up fields and home (old Roman, Februa "to
cleanse" month)
- Mary
purification festival (Christian, Western church)
- Burning
old Brigid's wheels and making new ones (some parts of
Ireland)
- Placing
Brigid's wheel above/on door to bless home (Celtic, Wiccan)
Have
you ever given anything up for Lent? If not, you might
consider it. You don’t have to be Catholic to gain spiritual
benefits from the voluntary surrender of something you
cherish. You can give up something frivolous or something
serious, but it should be something you will notice. Folk
wisdom says it takes six weeks (or approximately the 40 days
of Lent) to establish a new habit, so you may end up with a
lifestyle change.
The
kids in our neighborhood have eagerly embraced the idea of
giving up something for Lent. We know one little girl who gave
up TV for Lent and another who gave up catsup, her favorite
food. In the last two years, I've given up alcohol and coffee
for Lent. Forty days is enough time to notice the difference
in the way you feel without a favorite substance or
distraction.
Since
Candlemas is often considered the beginning of spring, you can
perform another ritual act of purification: spring cleaning.
This would be a good time to do a thorough house cleaning,
sweeping the floors with salt water, banishing the gloom of
winter and creating a sparkling, shiny new setting for spring. |
