February the 2nd - Feast of Our Lady of Thunder candlesToday Roman Catholic Church in Poland celebra
February the 2nd - Feast of Our Lady of Thunder candlesToday Roman Catholic Church in Poland celebrates the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple and the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary, which is commonly known as the Feast of Our Lady of Thunder candles. During the Holy Mass priests bless the candles called gromnice (thunder candles), which were later placed on windowsills during thunderstorms. It has been believed that they will protect the hauseholds from being struck by lightning and will ward off the storms. Also people used their smoke to make a cross sign at the ceiling, for protection and good blessings.Nowadays gromnice are almost exclusively used during important celebrations in people’s life. They are light during christening and First Communion, and also at the bedpost of a dying person, presumably to lighten the way into heavens for the passing soul or as a metaphor to the biblical story about prudent maidens who awaited Lord’s comming with their lamps alight.In folklore tales gromnice were also used to ward off monsters and scares.Pictures above:1. foto by Paulina Sieczkowska for the Celebrations project2. drawing by Michał Andriolli Matka Boska Gromniczna. see more: http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ofiarowanie_Pa%C5%84skie -- source link
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