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February 2nd |
 | | of February has been held as the festival of the Purification of the Virgin, and it is still a holiday of the Church of England. |
 | | The popular name Candlemass is derived from the ceremony which the Church of Rome dictates to be observed on this day; namely, a blessing of candles by the clergy, and a distribution of them amongst the people, by whom they are afterwards carried lighted in solemn procession. |
 | | Thus the snowdrop was called the Purification Flower (also the Fair Maid of February), from its blossoming about Candlemass; the crocus was dedicated to St. Valentine; the daisy to St. Margaret (hence called by the French La belle Marguerite); the Crown Imperial to St. Edward, king of the West Saxons, whose day is the 18 |
| www.thebookofdays.com /months/feb/2.htm (1843 words) |
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