In early February (February 2, to be exact), there is an ancient holiday called Candlemas. It is celebrated between the winter solstice (December 21) and the spring equinox (March 20). On Candlemas, people would gather wax and all the half-used candles around the house and make more candles from old wax or dip fresh beeswax candles to get them through the second half of winter. February means you’re half way to spring (guess this depends where you live!). It’s a half-way-through-winter and let’s make sure we’ll stay cozy and well-fed kind of celebration.
To read the rest of the blog, go to my blog at Mother Earth News: http://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/candlemas-midwinter-holiday-zbcz1402.aspx
–Ilene