Candlemas

Today, Candlemas, and/or the Feast of the Purification, marks the 40th day after the Nativity, the day when Mary would present the Christ Child in the Temple. The Gospel readings today are from St. Luke, who tells us the words of Simeon and Anna.
We are fortunate enough to have a Mass tonight at 7PM commemorating the Feast.
Below is a traditional English poem from long ago about the end of the Christmas season. As I get older, I am reminded that I have seen most of the Christmas seasons in my life that I will see, February 2 is also my dad’s birthday. He has been gone for 29 years and never got to see any of his grandchildren. I usually ignore the groundhog stuff from two hours away.
Now Have Good Day, Now Have Good Day!
I Am Christmas, And Now I Go My Way

Here have I dwelled with more and less
From Hallowtide1 till Candlemas,2
And now must I from you hence pass:
Now have good day!
I take my leave of king and knight,
And earl, baron and lady bright,
To wilderness I must be dight;
Now have good day!
And at the good lord of this hall
I take my leave, and of guests all.
Methinks I hear, Lent doth call;
Now have good day!
And at every worthy officer,
Marshall, panter and butler,
I take my leave as for this year;
Now have good day!
Another year I trust I shall
Make merry in this hall,
If rest and peace in England may fall;
Now have good day!
But oftentimes I have heard say
That he is loth to part away,
That often biddeth “have good day”;
Now have good day!
Now fare ye well, all in fere!
Now fare ye well for all this year!
Yet for my sake, have good cheer;
Now have good day!