From Candlemas to Red Feather Day
From Candlemas to Red Feather Day…
Whereas in the Midwinter period the Christian church seems to have cleverly placed their festivals alongside existing pagan ones and eventually displaced or adopted them, during this Spring period it has a much more central (and physical) role in customary practices. Here are a few examples ...
Candlemas Day - 2 February
This marks the feast of the Purification of Mary and Christ’s Presentation at the Temple forty days after His birth, it is also the day when candles were blessed in church and distributed to congregation. It is perhaps no coincidence that a pre-Christian festival of light formerly took place on 1 February and in some parts of Europe it was thought that church candles had preventative powers, even helping to stave off storms and earthquakes.
Blessing the Throats - 3 February
At the Roman Catholic church of St Etheldreda, Ely Place near Holbom Circus in London, many sufferers of throat ailments congregate on this day to witness the invocation of St Blaise. Blaise, a 4th century Armenian bishop, had saved a child from choking to death on a fish-bone, whilst on his way to prison to be martyred by having his flesh tom from him with sharp iron combs and then being beheaded. Two long altar candles are tied together with ribbons in the shape of a St Andrew’s cross and held under the chins of worshippers by a priest who prays, ‘May the Lord deliver you from the evil of the throat and from every other evil’.
The comb connection resulted in St Blaise also being adopted by wool combers all over England, his effigy carried in great pageants and processions held up until the early part of the 19th century in wool-towns such as Norwich, Guildford, Northampton, Bradford and York.
Candlemas Rock - Sunday nearest Candlemas
At the Church of St Mary of the Purification in Blidworth, Nottinghamshire, an old wooden cradle, decorated with flowers and greenery, is brought into the church and placed in the candle-lit chancel near the altar. The most recently baptised baby boy is then presented by his parents to the vicar, who, after saying a special prayer at the altar, places the baby into the cradle and gently rocks him for a few moments. The child is seen to represent the baby Jesus and commemorates His presentation at the Temple. This ceremony was only revived in the 1920’s, having lapsed after the Reformation. Before that it is said to have been held in Blidworth since the 13th century.
Clowns’ Service - first Sunday in February
A casual visitor to the Holy Trinity Church in Dalston, East London, may have something of a shock. For this is the day of the annual Clowns’ Service which commemorates one of the greatest clowns of them all, Joseph Grimaldi. Joe died in 1837, but it was not until 1946 that a service was held in his honour - and that was in a church in Pentonville Road where he is actually buried. It moved to the Holy Trinity in the 1950’s where the museum of the International Circus Clowns Club is also to be found. The service is quite something, with the lessons and prayers being led by the clowns (in full kit) and performances given during and after.
Red Feather Day - last Friday in February
It is Feather Day at the school founded and named after the 18th century London Sheriff and MP, Sir John Cass staff and pupils go to the nearby Church of St Botolph’s-without-Aldgate for a remembrance service for Sir John who was born on 20 February, 1661, baptised at St Botolph’s, and who died in 1718. So what, you might ask? What is so special about remembering the founder of your school? Well, first of all they wear red feathers in their lapels, and secondly, there is the story. Sir John’s timing was not of the best for, as he was writing his last will and testament, his lungs haemorrhaged and he died. His blood was splattered all over his writing and quill pen, thus making it a red feather!
This page is part of our Beginners’ Guide: British Folk Customs From Plough Monday to Hocktide.
