Infant Jesus Tradition

On February 2nd, we celebrated the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple. It is also known as the day Candles are blessed in Catholic churches. Why do we celebrate this day? It is mentioned in the gospel of Luke, in the second chapter, verse 25.

Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple and there in the temple was a man named Simeon. When Simeon took Jesus in his arms he said, "I have seen your salvation with my own eyes. You prepared him before all people. He is a light for all people to see."


Jesus is the light of the world. For this reason candles are used as a symbol of Jesus light in our homes.

In Mexico we celebrate this day by taking the image of the infant Jesus to be blessed. Some families dress him in baby clothes or fancy dresses. The image is placed in a chair or throne.

This is Son's infant Jesus

This is daughter's infant Jesus

And here is the infant Jesus in our living room.

The dresses were made by a friend of the family except the one of son's infant Jesus. She made the dress from last year too.

I just read in a mexican magazine that is a 3 year tradition. The first year you dress the image like a baby. The second year like a man or Saint. And the third year as a King. There are many images of the Infant Jesus venerated in different places of the world. The Infant of Prague, the child of Atocha in Mexico, and the Divine Child in Colombia.