The Celtic goddess of youth and fertility who was known as Bride, was born at Imbolc (a festival which marked the beginning of the lambing season and Spring on 2nd February).
Traditional weather lore marks this transition to Spring and forecasts the balance of winter weather based on the Candlemas Day weather:
If Candlemas Day be fair and bright
Winter will take another flight.
If Candlemas Day be cloud and rain
Winter is gone and will not come again.
The goddess Bride was changed into St Bridget or St Brigid by the early church and the festival was incorporated into the Christian religion.
The Christian celebration of Candlemas was originally a time when candles were blessed by the clergy and given to people to be carried through the church. Candles would be placed in every window of the church as well as in the windows of people’s homes. If there were not enough candles to go around the home, then one candle would be placed in the kitchen window.
Up until fairly recently in Britain the old traditions of cleaning (and even painting) the house at Candlemas were observed, the house cleaning ending with the table being laid with the best tea things ready for the evening meal.
If you wish to dress your miniature table for a special occasion we have several crochet tablecloth patterns:
1:12th scale oval tablecloth
1:12th scale round red tablecloth
1:12th scale tablecloth
1:24th scale tablecloth
and tablemats on this pattern:
1:12th scale breakfast set