It’s February 2nd again and we are half way through winter. Today is the day when groundhogs like Punxsutawney Phil and Wiarton Willie come out to tell us if there is going to be 6 more weeks of winter this year (looking at the weather news, my money is with a longer winter).
Staute commenorating Wiarton Wille, the famous pronosticator from Wiarton, Ontario, Canada
Here in Mexico, they celebrate El Día de la Candelaria (Candlemas) today, which in Catholic tradition is a day to bring candles to church to be blessed, and also a day for the feast of the purification, or the presentation of Christ at the Temple. Ancient Jewish law required that babies and their mothers wait 40 days after birth before going to the temple, since February 2nd falls 40 days after Christmas, it is the date Jesus would have first been presented at the temple.
In Mexico this celebration has fused with pre Columbian traditions and the meal typically served here in Mexico is Tamales and Atole, two native American foods dating back to before the conquest. As I mentioned yesterday, this day also marks the end of the holiday season for many Mexicans, and is the day when I will) finally take down my Christmas tree (and my New Years decorations from my Puerto Vallarta real estate website).
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