One of the oldest Christian feasts, Candlemas marks the end of the Christmas-Epiphany period and usually falls on 2 February, the day after St Brigid’s. Many churches bless and purify their candles on this day, and superstition has it that ‘if Candlemas be fair and bright, come winter have another fight. If Candlemas bring cloud and rain, go winter, and not come again.’
This edition of four sculptures, shaped like anatomical human hearts, were created from the spent beeswax candles lit by worshippers in the West London Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Imbued with the prayers and well wishes of many hundreds of people, they contain sand from the votive trays and the fine string candle wicks set alight in acts of devotion.
