TO UNDERSTAND THE SCENE

The Circumcision; Simon BENING; 1525; tempera and gold on parchment; from Cardinal Albert von Brandenburg’s Book of Prayers; J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

Paul Getty trust

The Gospel according to Luke, chapter 2

Jesus has just been born.

And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, who was so named by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;
(As it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord")
And to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons".

A just and pious man named Simeon is “waiting for the consolation of Israel”; he receives the child in his arms, blesses God and says: 

"Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word:
For my eyes have seen your salvation..."

An old woman, a prophetess named Anna, also starts to praise God for the birth of this child.

(Luke 2:21:30)

Comment
 

These narratives show that Jesus is a real man and a Jew submitted to the Law. The circumcision is the sign of the covenant between God and Abraham; it is the fundamental rite of belonging to the Jewish people. The ending of the text announces that Jesus is the Messiah expected by those who hope like Simeon and Anna.

The Circumcision and the Presentation in the Temple

The rite is presented with some precision and Mary’s role is marginalised.

Circumcision and presentation are associated; Mary plays the main role.

The circumcision

It is an old rite practised by several peoples or religions, among them Jews and Arabs. In Western Europe, it has long been a distinctive sign of Jews and, on this account, ridiculed by anti-Semites. It has even served as a proof of membership during persecutions. Nowadays, it has taken a prophylactic character, particularly in Anglo-Saxon countries, where it has spread without any specific meaning.

A mohel (a ritual circumciser) carries out the circumcision of a boy on the eighth day after birth.

Candlemas

The feast of the Presentation in the Temple has remained famous under the name of “Candlemas”; it is celebrated forty days after Christmas, on February 2^nd. Its name comes from a Catholic procession in which everybody carried a candle. Jesus was, according to Simeon, “A light to lighten the Gentiles” (Luke 2:32).

For this feast, a candle was lit, hence the name of “Candlemas”. This candle had to be taken home lit and it was supposed to have virtues of protection.

This procession replaced a pagan feast of fertility celebrated with torches on February 15^th in honour of the god Pan and the goddess Proserpine.

But its celebrity comes above all from the making of pancakes, whose shapes recall the sun, hence light. It is an old tradition since Pope Gelasius already offered some to tired pilgrims.

The thin pancakes are tossed and, according the tradition, whoever manages to toss his pancake without dropping it on the ground will have good luck until the next Candlemas; on the contrary, it is always regarded as bad luck to let a pancake fall on the floor…

Candlemas is then a celebration of the end of winter but with some risks of a return of the cold; that is why Robert Desnos calls snowdrops “Candlemas violets”.