On February 2nd. we celebrate de Day of the Virgin of  Candles.  This feast derives from 2 different occurences at the beginning of the Christian era:  First it is about the 40th day after the birth of  Jesus, officially known as the Purification of the Virgin, and the second is about Jesus’  presentation at Temple.  In the same way, we have 2 different celebrations on that day in Mexico.

The 1st one is the most popular:  as you may have read in our previous post about Rosca of Kings, inside it are several tiny dolls.  Whoever got them will get together to buy tamales and hot chocolate to share with all who participated in the cutting of the rosca on the evening of February 2, Day of the Virgin of the Candles.

The second tradition is more elaborate as it begins at midnight on December 24 where in some homes the family has a Baby Jesus doll which they cuddle and sing lullabyes to before laying it down to sleep in a manger.  They choose the godparents and this is for life.  In the first days of January the godparents take the Baby Jesus doll to be dressed.  There are people dedicated to restore and dress dolls.  They can be dressed with different types of attires:  as their favorite soccer team, to give them good luck, as a doctor, to bring health, in white with coins for prosperity, etc.

On February the 2nd, they take the doll to chuch to be blessed with 12 candles or votive candles, which can be lit for special occasions or requests during the year.  In the evening they offer tamales and hot chocolate to the owners of the baby, who might own several dolls, so they will stay for a little while and then go to the other homes where they have the other babies.  They pick up  their dolls  and receive the candles and flowers and put them away until next Christmas Eve when they repeat the ceremony.

So, if you got the doll in the Rosca of Kings or if you are a godparent to one, start getting ready with your tamales and hot chocolate for this February 2, Day of the Virgin of Candles!You now can buy diflucan online