Happy Candlemas!

Today is the feast of Candlemas, also known as the Presentation of the Lord.
Candlemas is a celebration that occurs on February 2nd, exactly 40 days after Christmas.  Mary and Joseph, 40 days after Jesus was born, went to the temple to present Jesus.  That was when Simeon made his prophecy to Mary ("A sword shall pierce your heart."). 
  A very interesting fact....Candlemas was the beginning of Groundhog Day.  You see, there was an old English saying that went, ""If Candlemas Day be bright and clear, there'll be two winters in the year." (source: http://www.fisheaters.com/customstimeafterepiphany3.html)  Then, when the Germans came over to Pennsylvania, the tradition was changed into what we know know as Groundhog Day here in the US!
Our family celebrates Candlemas by reading the account of the Presentation today and then eating a candlelight dinner. Some pictures we took are below.  Very fun evening!!
In XC,
Cady

                                   This is one of my favorites.  It reminds me of a kerosene lamp.

                                                 Aren't those candles PRETTY!!!???

 The whole family w/candles (picture this with all the lights off.  That's what it was, but the camera didn't cooperate.)

                   Miss Sarah is photogenic even when she doesn't know she's having a picture taken of her!

I took this for a funny reason.  When I saw this pot (it has soup in it, by the way) and the steam rising up from it, all I could think was, "Oh, that looks so much like a big cauldron!" And then I started envisioning this servant girl coming up to a pot like this and using all her arm strength to stir it and....my imagination went absolutely wild.  However, I can explain-writers' imaginations are supposed to go wild.  That's how they create the amazing novels they write. And since I absolutely love to write (books, blog posts, doesn't matter)....I think that should count for something, don't you agree? =)