Folio_54v The Purification of the Virgin Limbourg 1411-1415
February 2 is a Christian holiday commemorating the presentation of Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem forty days after his birth. It is based upon the scriptural account of this event in Luke 2:22–40, which in turn was based upon an ancient Hebrew tradition from Moses described in Leviticus 12:1-8. In Roman Catholic, Anglican, Episcopal, some Lutheran churches, and Eastern Orthodox churches, candles are blessed on February 2 and widely distributed, a candle mass may be offered, and the day is widely known in the church calendar as Candlemas.
Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, Rembrandt 1631