And then that damned groundhog came along and bogarted the holiday, huh? Well, they should've known he was after a movie contract in the first place.

And, actually, everything from the Candlemas but the Feb. 2 tradition of ascertaining the longevity of Winter, was infused into the Dec. 25 celebration of Christmas, which the first early Roman Christian emperors moved to that date because it was in harmony with the feast of Saturnalia, and helped to spread the Word to their constituents in a more familiar manner. That's where all the candles come from as part of the Christmas imagery. And, of course, the light shining in the darkness (in the depth of Winter) is a feast and ritual going back to ancient pagan celebrations. The true birth of Christ is believed to be closer to the Julian calender's date of Jan. 7...and some even put it another month or two later.

(this is all off the top of my had, if some of it is a bit off, please feel free to correct me)