THE NEW YORK TIMES
Published: February 3, 1863
Yesterday solemn services were performed in all the Catholic Churches in this City, and also in the Protestant Episcopal Churches. In the former the ceremony of blessing candles, before early mass occurred. Pieces of these candles are considered of great efficacy in sickness, or otherwise. When a person is dying, a piece is put in his hand lighted, and thus he passes away in the belief that it may light him to Paradise. On account of these "blessed candles." the day is also called "Candlemas Day." In Ireland the day is particularly observed. The days are now visibly longer, and there is an old distich which runs thus:
"Welcome! welcome! Candlemas Day,
We'll throw our candlesticks away:"
alluding to the fact that the nights are becoming shorter, and the poor people require no more artificial light, and that Spring commences and Winter departs.
In our City churches the most absolute respect was paid to the observances of the day, for individual mention of which we have no room. [link]
Friday, 3 February 2012
Report of the Day After Candlemas in NYC, 1863
Posted on 02:32 by the great khali
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