The day of Candelmas, the day increases by one hour.
From mid-January, the night begins to leave some room for the day, but it is from early February that the duration of the day extends significantly.
At the beginning of the month of February, in its journey around the sun, the Earth is halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox (as early in November is between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice).
At this time of the year, humanity has associated landmarks and rites :
- For the ancient Celts, Imbolc is celebrated on February 1st of our calendar. It is associated with Brigit (also named Bride, Brigantia), the goddess Aurora mother of Ruadán -the '(Little-)red', a name given to the young sun- supposed to protect the herds and promote fecundity.
- Among the Romans, the Lupercalia was celebrated from February 13 to 15, in honor of Faunus, god of fertility and herds.
- For Christians, Candlemas takes place on February 2nd, the fortieth day starting from Christmas. It corresponds to the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple and his recognition by Simeon as "Light that is revealed to the nations" celebrated from the 4th century in Jerusalem. It is one of the twelve major liturgical feasts of the Orthodox Church.
- The pancakes with their round shape and golden color remind of the solar disc finally back after the dark and cold winter, which would explain why crepes are made at Candlemas, a time of the year when the days grow longer and faster. It was also during this period that the winter sowing began. We were therefore using excess flour to make these pancakes, a symbol of prosperity for the year to come.
A tradition that dates back to the end of the 5th century and linked to a fertility rite consists in sautéing pancakes with the right hand while holding a gold coin in the left hand in order to experience prosperity throughout the year.
- The 2026 Chinese New Year takes place on February 17 and begins the Year of the Horse of Fire.
The Chinese calendar being a lunisolar calendar, the date of the Chinese New Year in the Gregorian calendar varies from one year to another, but always falls between January 21 and February 19, during the second new moon since the winter solstice. It is, like all the beginnings of the Chinese lunar months, the first day of a new moon. By convention, the astronomical alignment that signals the new moon is determined at the Purple Mountain Observatory in Nanjing.