Day of the Light

Day of the LightThe Luxembourg name for the holiday is Day of Light. It is not a day off, but it is celebrated by children. Children walk door to door early in the evening with candles or lanterns (called Lichtebengelchen), sing a traditional song (Le'wer Hergottsblieschen) to ask for a reward. If children knock on your door, be ready to give everyone a small gift - a lollipop or a little change.

The holiday is established in memory of a significant event for Christians - the meeting (Slavic meeting) in the Jerusalem Temple of the Child Jesus with the righteous Elder Simeon.

Meeting in the Roman Catholic Church is a feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary, dedicated to the memory of the bringing of the baby Jesus to the temple and the purification ceremony performed by his mother on the fortieth day after the birth of the firstborn. At the entrance to the temple she was met by St. Simeon, who was told that he would not die until he saw Christ, and Elder Anna, who dwelt at the temple. As the Law of Moses dictated, the parents brought the Child Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem on the 40th day after birth for initiation. The Evangelist Luke relates that when Mary stood in the Temple with the Child Jesus in her arms, Elder Simeon, known in the city for his wisdom and righteousness, approached her. When he saw the baby Jesus, he took him in his arms and said, “Today you let go of your servant, Master, according to your word, in peace; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all nations, a light for the enlightenment of the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel” (Luke 2:29-32).

In the Catholic Church, the feast of the Meeting of the Lord from time immemorial is called Chandeleur, i.e. the lamp. In memory of the words of righteous Simeon, who called Jesus “a light to the enlightenment of the Gentiles”, on the feast of Cretenia from the 11th century, a ceremony of consecration of candles is performed in temples, which are then lit during worship. Believers carefully keep Sretensky candles throughout the year and light them when they turn with prayer to Christ in difficult moments for themselves: during illness, family troubles and other everyday difficulties.

The Feast of the Meeting of the Lord belongs to the oldest feasts of the Christian Church. But, despite its early origin, this holiday was not celebrated so solemnly until the VI century. In 528, under the emperor Justinian (527-565), Antioch suffered a calamity – an earthquake that killed many people. This misfortune was followed by another. In 544, a pestilence appeared, which carried away several thousand people daily. In these days of national distress it was revealed to one of the pious Christians that the celebration of the Meeting of the Lord should be celebrated more solemnly.

On the day of the Lord’s Revelation, the vigil and procession of the cross were celebrated, the calamities in Byzantium ceased. In gratitude to God, the Church in 544 established a solemn celebration of the Meeting of the Lord. Thus, this day was included in the number of twelve especially solemn all-church festivities - the twelfth holidays.