Lent Reflections 1 - Shadows

2 Kings 20:10

It is an easy thing for the shadow to lengthen ten steps. Rather let the shadow go back ten steps.

The earliest mention of Lent in church history is in 325 AD and is referred to in Greek as 'tessarakonta'. Translated, this means forty – the length of time that Jesus is said to have spent in the wilderness at the beginning of his public ministry. The number forty is used as a symbolic period of time, just as we use umpteen or aeons when we do not have an exact measurement.

In English, Lent derives from Anglo-Saxon and means lengthen. Lent begins when days are lengthening as spring approaches. We too can lengthen spiritually - we can stretch out and grow in the Spirit.

Just as the sun was thought to do the work of lengthening the days during early springtime, so it is the sun – in the sense of God’s warmth and light – that does this work in our lengthening and growing in Christ. In the English language there is a beautiful play on the words sun and son. Just as the sun was seen to do the work of lengthening the days in spring, so it is the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who does the work of lengthening in our spiritual growth. This image provides a comfort for us in our busy lives. During Lent, let us unite with God’s grace and find time to relax in the presence of God.

A shadow lengthening sounds gloomy, but without the sun there are no shadows. As the days grow longer, shadows stretch out. When we see shadows we know that the sun is with us, just as the Son of God, is with us too, always.

Karen Ette 14th February 2018

Photographs by Syd Spence

Candlemas - Mid Winter - Snowdrops and Crepes

Candlemas

Photograph by Rachael Mott 

Candlemas is a Christian celebration which takes place annually on the 2nd February and is the last festival in the Christian year which is dated by reference to Christmas (those which follow are with reference to Easter). This is also the period between the December (winter) solstice and March (spring) equinox, so it’s winter’s halfway point whilst we are all waiting for spring. Before Christianity it was called the Festival of Light, which marked the mid-winter point.

It has been thought that, similar to St Swithin’s Day (some say St Swithun), Candlemas will predict the weather for the rest of winter, as in this traditional rhyme:

If Candlemas Day be fair and bright,

Winter will have another fight,

If Candlemas Day brings cloud and rain,

Winter won’t come again.

So, let’s hope Candlemas this year is cloudy and rainy!

Another belief is that any Christmas decorations which haven’t been taken down before twelfth-night, should be left up until Candlemas – just think of all the extra dusting!

Traditional food for Candlemas is crepes (or pancakes as we know them). For La Chandeleur (as the French call it)  the tradition is for each member of the family to cook a crepe whilst holding a coin in their hand.  This is supposed to assure happiness and wealth until the next Candlemas celebration.

The school spring term used to be called Candlemas term, and still is in a few educational establishments, especially in Scotland.

It commemorates the ritual purification of Mary, 40 days after the birth of her son (40 days for a boy, 60 for a girl). She could then take part in religious services again. This day also marks the ritual presentation of the baby Jesus to God in the Temple at Jerusalem where  they were met by Anna and Simeon and  Simeon held the baby Jesus and called him a Light to the World.

The reason it is called Candlemas is that this is the day when the Church’s candles are blessed for the year and many people also like to place lighted candles in their windows on Candlemas night.

Photograph of Snowdrops (Candlemass Bells) by Syd Spence

Snowdrops are also known as Candlemas Bells, this is because they bloom early on and some before Candlemas Day even – heralding spring. There are some old superstitions concerning snowdrops.  One is that if someone brings them into the house on Candlemas Day (some say before Candlemas Day) then it is very bad luck.  However, it has also been thought that these beautiful flowers can purify the home. They are also said to be a symbol of hope.

Although observed by many (and perhaps not so many now as it used to be) sadly it isn’t a public holiday in the United Kingdom .

 © Karen Ette 2013