Candlemas Day is celebrated on 2 February. On this occasion housewives would take candles to church, beeswax candles many a time, and during the service the priest would bless them. It was a simple ritual but of great importance at the time.

The lady of the house carefully kept those blessed candles amongst bed linen or clothing, in a wardrobe or a chest. The candles were thought to possess a special power, and whenever protection was needed for the house and the household (in the event of storm, for instance, or in case a lost soul or a frightening creature had been heard to wander around the area), a blessed candle would be lit and all demons dissapeared.

The same candles would be used at wakes for family members and at Sunday service on the symbolic family grave in church.