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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CAN'LEMAS, Candlemass, Candlesmass, Candlesmes, Cannlesmas, n. Sc. forms of Eng. Candlemas, February 2, one of the quarter-days in Scotland. Also attrib. The Eng. form is illustrated only in combs. peculiar to Sc. [′kɑnl(z)mɑs, -mɪs, -məs]Sc. 1745 Nairne Peerage Evidence (1873) 38:
At Candlesmass jai viic and fforty seven years [1747, date of a future settlement of accounts].Ork. 1995 Orcadian (26 Jan.)  4:
The cards are to remain up until Candlemas Eve, and no longer; that is my custom. Ork. 1995 Orcadian (16 Mar.)  19:
My first indoor narcissi opened in the beginning of the month, about Candlemas.Abd.(D) 1917 C. Murray Sough o' War (1918) 26:
It's three year by come Can'lemas, as I've gweed cause to min', That Mains's man an' me fell oot, an' focht about a queyn.Old freit (per Abd.⁴ 1929):
Gin the birdies sing afore Can'lemas they'll greet as lang aifter.Hdg. 1701 Records Sc. Cloth Manuf. (S.H.S. 1905) 223:
Orders to delay useing dilligence againest John Hepburne and George Livingtoune untill Candlesmes next.Lnk.³ 1938:
In some parts of Scotland it was the custom for the pupils of a school to bar the gates and keep the master out on Candlemas Day. I myself have been “barred out” [c.1880]. The pupils expected — and usually got — a holiday.

Combs.: 1. Candlemas(s) ba', “a football match played on Feb. 2” (Sc. 1898 E.D.D.; Bnff.² 1938); “current 100 years ago” (Arg.¹ 1938); “still an annual event at Kirkcudbright Academy” (Kcb.⁹ 1938); †2. Candlemas-bleeze, Cannlesmas —, (1) “the gift made by pupils to a schoolmaster at Candlemas; elsewhere, Candlemas Offering . . . at first exacted under the notion of its being applied to defray the expense of kindling a blaze at this season” (Rxb., Slk. 1825 Jam.²; Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 113, Cannlesmas — ); see also bleeze-money s.v. Bleeze, n.¹, 4; (2) a bonfire on Candlemas evening; given as obs. by Watson in Rxb. W.-B. (1923); †3. Candlemas crown, “a badge of distinction . . . conferred, at some grammar-schools, on him who gives the highest gratuity to the rector, at the term of Candlemas” (Sc. 1808 Jam.); †4. Candlemas king, — queen, “the title and honour conferred on the boy who gave the highest gratuity to the schoolmaster at Candlemas: also, the boy who so excelled. Among the girls there was a similar title and honour, viz.: Candlemas Queen” (Sc. 1887 Jam.⁶; Kcb.¹ 1938, obs.); 5. Candlemas offering, see Comb. 2.1. Sc. 1863 R. Chambers Book of Days I. 214:
Another old popular custom in Scotland on Candlemass day was to hold a foot-ball match . . . the Candlemass Ba', as it was called.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
Candlemas ba' = Callants' Ba' (at Jedburgh).2. (1) w.Dmf. 1903 J. L. Waugh Thornhill 33:
There was a curious school custom in existence for a long time called Candlemas Bleeze. [Last known observance of this custom in Dumfries c.1865 (Kcb.¹ 1938).](2) Sc. 1863 R. Chambers Book of Days I. 214:
Candlemas-bleeze . . . the conflagration of any piece of furze which might exist in their [schoolchildren's] neighbourhood, or . . . of an artificial bonfire.3. Fif. 1795 Stat. Acc.¹ XIII. 211:
The scholars . . . pay . . . a Candlemas gratuity, according to their rank and fortune, from 5s. even as far as 5 guineas, where there is a keen competition for the Candlemas crown.4. Fif. 1795 Stat. Acc.¹ XIII. 211:
The [Candlemas] king, i.e. he who pays most, reigns for 6 weeks, during which period he is not only entitled to demand an afternoon's play for the scholars once a-week, but he has also the royal privilege of remitting all punishments.5. Ayr. 1871 J. Paterson Reminisc. 15:
Candlemas offerings were then annually made in schools — the highest contributor being King or Queen as the case happened.