February 2nd is the religious holiday known as "Día de la Candelaria," or Candlemas in English. On this date, people all over the country dress up figures of Baby Jesus in special outfits and take them to the church to be blessed. Families and friends then get together to eat tamales as a follow-up to the Three-Wise-Men festivities on January 6th. This is mainly a religious, family celebration.

Presentation of Christ at the Temple

February 2nd is precisely forty days after Christmas and is celebrated by the Catholic church as the feast of the Purification of the Virgin. Or alternatively, as the Presentation of the Lord at the temple. The origin of this holy feast day comes from ancient Jewish custom. According to Jewish law, a woman was considered unclean for 40 days after giving birth, and it was customary to bring a baby to the temple after that period had passed. The idea is then that Mary and Joseph would have taken Jesus to the temple to be blessed on February 2nd, forty days after his birth on December 25th

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