Credit: Pixabay
Today, Thursday 2 February 2023, marks the celebration of one of Luxembourg's oldest traditions: "Liichtmëssdag" (Candlemas).
Every year in the early evening of 2 February, children in Luxembourg go door to door in their neighbourhoods bearing colourful lanterns ("Liichtebengelcher" in Luxembourgish) and singing in exchange for sweets and money. The traditional Liichtmëssdag song is "Léiwer Härgottsblieschen", which features a request for bacon and peas.
The origins of this tradition date to the pre-Christian era, although Liichtmëssdag is now associated with Saint Blaise, whose (Western) Feast Day is observed on 3 February.
