Fete de la chandeleur, French crepe day!

La Chandeleur: February 2^nd

It’s crepe time in France! On February 2^nd Americans have Groundhog Day; the French have…. la Chandeleur, or the fête des chandelles (candles) which translates as Candlemass in English, referring to the blessing of candles which traditionally took place on this day. For Roman Catholics, it’s the feast of the Presentation of the infant Jesus at the Temple, occurring forty days after Christmas. But the origin of the holiday is in fact pagan and today many traditions and superstitions are associated with it. Here are some fun things you can do to celebrate la Chandeleur with your friends and family (or French teachers: with your students!)

• Have a crepe party and try your hand at flipping crepes ! Faire sauter des crêpes is something of an art form in France. For good luck, hold a coin in one hand and with the other, toss the crepe into the air when it’s time to cook it on the other side. If you manage to catch the crepe in the pan you will have good fortune in the coming year!

• Enjoy the crepes with sugar, jam, chocolate, or Nutella.

• The traditional drink to accompany crepes is hard apple cider (which can be replaced by sparkling apple cider sans alcohol!)

• Create ambiance for this fête de la lumière by lighting candles around your house.

• Learn the French rhyme: “Quand la Chandeleur est claire, l’hiver par derrière; Chandeleur couverte, quarante jours de perte!” (If February 2^nd is clear, no more winter to fear; if the Chandeleur is overcast, forty days of winter to last).

Bonne fête et bon appétit !