Bonjour tout le monde
Well, circumstances beyond my control have made me break my vow of 52 posts in one year. I will keep trying, though, and before the end of the year, I might indeed have 52 posts!
On February 2, the French and many other Catholics celebrate Candlemas, or la Chandeleur. This fête celebrates the purification of the Virgin Mary and the presentation of the baby Jesus at the Temple.
La Chandeleur happens 40 days after Christmas; the reference to candles comes because this was the day that priests blessed beeswax candles that were distributed to the faithful. I like to think that it has something to do with the fact that night still falls rather early at this time of year, so candles are definitely needed!
The French celebrate this holiday with crepes, those thin pancakes that hold all sorts of yummy deliciousness within those delicate walls. Besides the religious connotation, the French like to mix a little fortune telling into the holiday. When cooking the crepes, you are to hold a coin in your hand while making the crepe flip in the air. If you catch the crepe in your pan, your family will have good luck for the rest of the year!
Here is a French recipe for crêpes. If you make them, be sure to take a picture to post on this page!
And here are a couple of pictures that I have taken over the years that have to do with crêpes, because they are good no matter what time of year it is!
There is a link between Chandeleur and our
Groundhog Day - see these proverbs which celebrate the day:
.
À la Chandeleur, l'hiver cesse ou reprend vigueur
On Candlemas, winter ends or strengthens
À la Chandeleur, le jour croît de deux heures
On Candlemas, the day grows by two hours
Chandeleur couverte, quarante jours de perte
Candlemas covered (in snow), forty days lost
Bon appétit and Bonne Fête des Chandeleurs!
May you successfully flip your crêpe and have prosperity all year long!
(Thanks to http://french.about.com/od/culture/a/chandeleur.htm)
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