* * * * * FLORAL DIRECTORY. Lesser Water Moss. _Fontinalis minor._ Dedicated to _St. Ignatius_. Bay. _Laurus nobilis._ Dedicated to _St. Bridget_. ~February 2.~ Holiday at the Public Offices, except Excise, Stamps, and Customs. _The Purification._ _St. Laurence_, Archbishop of Canterbury, A. D. 619. CANDLEMAS DAY. This being the festival which catholics call the Purification of the virgin, they observe it with great pomp. It stands as a holiday in the calendar of the church of England. Naogeorgus thus introduces the day; or rather Barnaby Googe, in his translation of that author’s, “Popish Kingdom:” “Then comes the Day wherein the Virgin offred Christ unto The Father chiefe, as Moyses law commaunded hir to do. Then numbers great of Tapers large, both men and women beare To Church, being halowed there with pomp, and dreadful words to heare. This done, eche man his Candell lightes where chiefest seemeth hee, Whose Taper greatest may be seene and fortunate to bee; Whose Candell burneth cleare and bright, a wondrous force and might Doth in these Candels lie, which if at any time they light, They sure beleve that neyther storme or tempest dare abide, Nor thunder in the skies be heard, nor any Devil’s spide, Nor fearefull sprites that walke by night, nor hurts of frost or haile.”-- According to “The Posey of Prayers, or the Key of Heaven,” it is called _Candlemas_, because before mass is said this day, the church _blesses her candles for the whole year_, and makes a procession with hallowed or blessed candles in the hands of the faithful.