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What is Candlemas Day in Mérida?

2023-02-03 | merida

One of the essential festivities at the beginning of the year that you can enjoy near the historical center hotels in Mérida is the day of Candlemas, celebrated precisely on February 2, 40 days after Christmas, and is one of the most important events of Mexican and Catholic tradition. Its origin is precisely from this religion, which, according to the stories, was when the Virgin purified herself after the birth of the child God, taking candles to the church to be blessed.

However, beyond the Catholic tradition, this celebration arrived in Mexico during colonial times and developed as a celebration focused on family unity and the tasting of one of the most traditional dishes of the region, tamales; because it coincided with the planting season and this was the dish that accompanied the celebration; although this does not mean that the image of the Virgin is not still the protagonist.

The favorite place to receive this celebration and enjoy all the religious and cultural displays is in the city of Valladolid, where the Virgen de la Candelaria is honored in the neighborhood of the same name and is located just a couple of hours from our hotels in Mérida taking the Gulf Coast Highway towards Cancun.

To have an excellent Candlemas Day during your stay in our boutique hotels in Mérida, we will present you with everything you need to know about the celebration, its history, the plans you can make, and some tips to have a fabulous February 2.

Going to church.

If you are in tune with the Catholic tradition, an excellent way to start Candlemas Day is to go to church, where the worship of the Virgin of Candelaria is perceptible and results in a rewarding experience; also, you can get to know the infrastructure of the Yucatecan cathedrals that are characterized by being highly aesthetic and maintain a mixture between the architectural style of colonialism with the Hispanic culture.

These Catholic celebrations are characterized by focusing on giving thanks for the light that brought the baby Jesus to humanity 40 days before the commemoration of his birth; so you can find a space to get away from the routine, stress, and anxiety and look inside yourself to give thanks for the blessings in the face of a new year.

Learn the story of Simeon, the older man.

Likewise, there are more interpretations of the origin of the Candlemas Day celebration; one you will hear from the locals is that of Simeon, a Bible translator who doubted the use of the word Virgin and instead used it as "woman." The story goes that God enlightened him under the promise of meeting the baby Jesus before he died; this motivated him to carry candles daily to church, awaiting his arrival until he saw him carrying Mary in his arms to close his eyes and never open them again.

Dressing the Baby Jesus.

Over the years, different traditions have been acquired to honor Candlemas Day among the locals; the main one is to dress the figure of the child God in various styles to decorate the houses and give a distinctive touch to the celebration. Usually, these dresses are handmade, although it is common to see market stalls where you can see some of the most traditional and extravagant designs.

“an opportunity to rediscover the magic of Mexican traditions.”

Sharing with the people of the Rosca de Reyes again.

Another popular tradition surrounding the day of Candlemas is to share with the people you shared with during the Rosca de Reyes. In this festivity, a dessert is distributed among friends and family that includes inside the figure of the baby God, who will be in charge of inviting the tamales on February 2, which becomes an excuse to enjoy in the company of your loved ones.

So, suppose you stayed at the hotels in the historical center of Mérida with your friends for Three Kings Day, and there was a winner for this prize. In that case, you can share a holiday with another of Mexico's traditional delicacies and be an opportunity to rediscover the magic of Mexican traditions.

These are some of the things you will be able to know and experience on Candlemas Day near the hotels in Merida's historic downtown. Still, if you want more information about this festivity or our reservations, we invite you to contact us by email at reservaciones@kunukhotel.com or at (999) 924 0208, where we will provide you with high-quality attention.