Lichtmess, literally a mass of light, is very popular in Germany. It is celebrated on February 2 and coincides with the Christian feast of the Presentation. Lichtmess marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring, therefore, it is necessary to pray for the fertility of the fields and good weather in the coming spring and summer. The flax harvest is of particular importance during the lichtmess prayer. Great importance is attached to the candles consecrated on this holiday - it is believed that they protect crops from thunderstorms and hail, disease, sudden death and in general from everything bad. Electric light is not lit throughout the day, only candles are lit. Their role is to ignite the light of the sun. The more candles are lit on this day, the more gentle the sun will be this year.
This is a men's holiday. On this day, men wear their most elegant suits - if possible, a tailcoat or a tuxedo, to which it is desirable to wear white pantaloons and a top hat, and tie a bright colored bow, scarf or scarf around their neck. Men begin to celebrate lichtmess at ten in the morning. On the table in the zucchini, where they gather for a festive breakfast, certainly - circles of fried homemade sausage, fresh crispy buns sprinkled with flax seeds, beer.
Women strive to finish all their handicrafts for lichtmess and demonstrate them to each other on a holiday; it is believed that the hostess whose work is done most accurately and looks good will receive the largest harvest this year.
The culmination of the holiday is a procession designed to hasten the winter with the departure (overstayed!). The procession is attended by the already amused men at breakfast. And it is headed by a "pea bear" that has risen from hibernation. He is led on a rope, and he scolds the dark forces and makes fun of adults, jokes with children.
From the book: "100 Great Holidays". Elena Olegovna Chekulaeva