El Día de la Candelaria

In English, Candlemas Day, is a celebration which originates back to when Joseph and the Virgin Mary presented their son Jesus at the temple. At that time, it was customary for women to go to the temple 40 days after giving birth to be purified, bringing candles as well to be blessed and to give thanks for the birth of their child.

Over time, many families present the image of the Baby Jesus at church for a blessing, thus remembering His presentation at the temple by Mary and Joseph. Out of respect and devotion, they clean and dress this representation of the Baby Jesus before presenting Him at the temple.

Photo by El Heraldo de México - Oaxaca

But why do we eat tamales? In Mexico, this celebration has been influenced by the pre-Hispanic customs that existed in the country. On that same date, the Mexica people celebrated the beginning of the corn planting season, taking the corn to be blessed before sowing it as a tribute to the gods Tláloc, the Mexica god of rain, lightning, water, and agricultural fertility (left image); and Chalchiuhtlicue, the Mexica goddess of inland waters, rivers, seas, lakes, and fertility (right image), hoping to have good harvests.

Photos by: Gobierno de México

Because of this fusion of traditions, many Mexican families today take their Baby Jesus figure to be blessed and then gather to eat tamales. However, there are also families who simply gather to eat tamales, which are usually brought by the people who found the Baby Jesus figurine in the rosca that is shared on January 6th.

Photo by Gobierno de México

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