The requirement in Levitical law was for Mary to be ‘cleansed’, the completion of her purification following the birth of a male child. Until this act Mary could touch no holy thing nor enter the sanctuary. ('The Churching of women' a thanksgiving for the safe delivery of child and Mother) and a prayer of blessing on them).
As an aside: This was one of the most practical things there could be, for it meant the mother, separated from things for a bit, had time to recover and heal from the birth.
There are two additional characters in the Presentation story: Simeon, a man who was promised he would see the Messiah before he died. Who acknowledges Jesus as the Messiah - ‘the light to enlighten the nations’ in what we call the nunc dimittis (roughly; let us depart).
Anna, a prophetess who told the people around her who Jesus and praised and thanked God for the birth of Israel's redemption.
It is also called 'Candlemas' as Christ, being proclaimed as the Light gave the idea of it being the day when candles for use in the church and home were blessed.
The image of the Presentation dates back to the fourteenth century.
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