Away in a manger,
no crib for His head,
the little Lord Jesus
lay down His sweet head.
The stars in the sky
looked down where He lay.
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
A reminder from our parish priest:
It is still the Christmas season
and will continue to be until next Sunday.
linking to
the inimitable Rebecca
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Comments
Kirov in the Cup
did you know that in mexico baby jesus does not appear in any mangers until christmas eve? and that every ones mangers remain displayed until Candelaria is celebrated on the 40th day after Christmas (February 2nd)? This religious celebration marks the end of the Christmas festivities observing the birth of Christ. Candelaria commemorates the day when Christ was presented in the temple by his parents.
Mexican families celebrate by "raising" the Christ Child figure from the nativity scene. The Christ figures and icons are also brought to the church to be blessed. Finally the nativity set is put away until the beginning of the next season’s Christmas celebrations.
Some cultures marked this day as the beginning of the new year, and traditionally brought their seed for the coming year's planting. Also candles are also brought to the church – from this tradition comes the name "Candelaria" from the Spanish word for candle "candela".