Has the glow of Christmas completely faded from your memory? Do you still have a few "fa-la-la-las" left somewhere? Personally, I've still got a few decorations up but I notice that as I bounce through the stores, the marketing professionals have changed their decorations to prepare for Valentine's Day. I do get excited that now and again, I can find a display or two celebrating Groundhog's day, a smaller celebration which comes very neatly at the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. 

Sometimes forgotten as we march through the days and the weeks, this midpoint between Winter and Spring is directly related to Christmas. February 2nd is, after all, forty days after the birth of Jesus and "forty" is always a significant number in our religious tradition stemming from the scriptures in which hear that number a lot. "Forty" represents the timing of a new birth, a new way of being. We hear it in the story of Noah and the Ark with 40 days of rain and 40 years of the Israelites in the desert and Jesus spending 40 days in the desert. Let's not forget that we're getting ready for the 40 days of Lent. 

So this holiday (Groundhogs day) is related to Christmas but in the Church, we don't celebrate it as such, instead it is the ancient feast we know as Candlemas. As you'll see, the traditions of Groundhogs Day are actually secularized versions of how Christians celebrated Candlemas for centuries. 

Candlemas commemorates the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple, as described in Luke's Gospel. It also marks the purification of Mary which fulfills a common Jewish practice for women after a woman gives birth to a child. 

This feast of Candlemas is rich in symbolism around the role candles and light have in our lives. The blessing and procession of candles remind us that Christ is the light of the world, dispelling the darkness of sin and bringing hope to all. Just as the candles illuminate our path, so too does Christ's light guide us on our journey of faith.

Candlemas offers us a moment to pause and consider how we are carrying that light in our own lives. Are we reflecting Christ's love and compassion to those around us? Do we allow his light to shine through our actions and words?

This year, we are blessing candles at Sunday Masses and inviting each family to take one blessed candle home with you to light in your home as a tangible reminder of Christ's presence in your life throughout the year. May it help you to embrace the light of Christ and carry it forth into the world.

And what about Groundhog's Day? Well it turns out, Groundhog's Day developed out of old Catholics superstitions surrounded Candlemas which had well well developed weather lore around the candles of Candlemas. If Candlemas was clear and bright, it meant that winter would last longer. If Candlemas was cloudy and rainy, it meant that Spring would be coming soon. In some traditions, the burning of the Candlemas candles was an indicator. If the candles burned steady, it was a good omen for the coming of Spring. If the candles flickered, it meant Winter would continue its harsh hold on the land. 

These customs demonstrate a clear parallel to the tradition of Groundhogs Day, which was actually started by German (Catholic?) immigrants to Pennsylvania who forecast the future months based on their observations of wild animals like bears and badgers, and groundhogs who were more common. They were in touch with the natural world around them and prognosticated forthright. 

For us at Candlemas, we might have our own prognostication. As we burn the candles of mid-winter, what do we see? A world where we let Christ's light shine a little brighter? Or one in which we hide that light in fear? Take your candle home with you, light it at home, and take some time to pray with it. In it's glow, may you see and believe how Christ's light is shining still in and through you, even in the midst of darkness. 

Applications Being Accepted

Are you considering a Catholic School Education for your family? New student applications for the 2025–2026 school year are now open!  Tuition assistance is available.  Applications for first-round acceptances are due by February 3, 2025.

Secure your spot today! Sign up for a tour here: schedule a tour New student applications for the 25-26 can be found here: New Student Application

Baby Bulldogs Winter Session

Registration is Now Open! Baby Bulldogs is a weekly meeting for infants, toddlers and their caregivers. Come join the fun! Baby Bulldogs meets in the Saint Andrew gym on Thursdays from 9-9:45am.  Sessions are January 30 through April 24 (no class on March 20).

Register here​​​​​​​

If you have any questions, please contact Anne Japsen at annejapsen@gosaintandrew.com

We look forward to seeing you there!