Let's Go Crêpe-y!
While not an official public holiday in France, Candlemas is celebrated annually on February 2nd. What is Candlemas? So glad you asked, you French tradition loving P'Nicher, you!
Wait, what's the groundhog doing here?
Well, many P'Nichers have asked me "if both of these unofficial holidays occur February 2nd, are they are both related to the coming weather forecast?"
Not really (exactly)... But, Groundhog, how about an early spring, ok?!
Candlemas, or La Chandeleur, is a catholic holiday that falls exactly 40 days after Christmas Day. It is a day to signify the purification of the Virgin Mary after the presentation of the infant Jesus.
While many Catholics will celebrate with a candlelight procession, more often than not, the day is celebrated with ... Crêpes!
As one does.
Ok, how did crêpes come to be a part of this catholic tradition? Stick with me, P'Nichers...
Picture it: 5th century Rome...
Pope Gelasus I had the idea to organize a candlelight procession to honor the Holy Mother. He then brought just a touch of pagan symbolism into play. You see, in pagan rituals, Candlemas was tied to the prosperity of the soil and the harvest to come. Farmers would use the flour from the year prior to make crêpes, whose round shape came to symbolize light and sunny days. Pope Gelasus I would offer these round disks to the pilgrims in Rome as a symbol of light and the eucharist.
Oh, and did I mention the pagan superstition still tied to the making of crêpes to this day? (Shhh, don't tell the pope!)
Legend states that when making crêpes, you must flip the crêpe in the pan using your right hand. In your left hand, you simultaneously must hold a gold coin.
Now, if when you flip the crêpe, you catch it properly in the pan on the first try, you will be guaranteed a year of good health and prosperity! Not sure I could manage it, coordination wise, but what fun...
Who knew that a humble day of crêpe making and eating would end up being one of the most superstitious days of the year? Certainly not the pope!
You know who else was quite superstitious? Napoléon Bonparte! Picture It: 1812 - the French Invasion of Russia.
Our main man, Napoléon, believed in the "crêpe flip trick" for good luck, having won several battles after successful "flips." Before this particular invasion, he was doing ok a few crêpes in, but one did not make it to the pan. It tumbled to the floor.
He should have followed the superstition and aborted mission. What followed can only be described as a militaristic campaign gone tremendously wrong - incredible losses of French troops (in battle, in fires, and in the cold of the Russian winter). Catastrophe.
Having realized his grave error in judgement, and during a hasty retreat, Napoléon stated that the fallen crêpe is surely what led to this demise. Surely.
That said, P'Niche is curious how Napoléon enjoyed his crêpes - perhaps a little chocolate hazelnut spread?!
Sure looks that way to P'Niches eyes...
With it's unique blend of candlelight (many people would bring candles home from mass) and crêpes (PS, if I ever open a dating service, it will be aptly titled "Candlelight & Crêpes,") there are also more fun games to be had on Candlemas.
Many believe that after you finish cooking your first crêpe, you should throw it against an armoire and see if it sticks. If it does stick, you'd leave it there for luck.
Others simply place the crêpe into the armoire, or even into a drawer. Some simply wave it over the furniture for fun (and luck) before eating.
P'Niche would be in the last camp of play - why waste all the yummy treats? Oh, the crêpe-manity of it all!
P'Niche Fun Cocktail Party Fact for you...
Did you know that in regions like Les Alpes and Les Pyrénées, La Chandeleur is often called "La Chandelours" instead?
Ours is the French word for Bear, so it's an adorably fun play on words. And I just bet bears would love a good crêpe, too...
Now, I know I said that Candlemas was not really like Ground Hog Day in the US and Canada, but a French proverb does show a touch of similarity... (in French first):
À la Chandeleur, l'hiver cesse ou reprend vigueur
À la Chandeleur, le jour croît de deux heures
Chandeleur couverte, quarante jours de perte
Rosée à la Chandeleur, hiver à sa dernière heure
On Candlemas, winter ends or gets worse
On Candlemas, the day grows by two hours
Candlemas covered in snow, forty days lost
Dew on Candlemas, winter at its final hour
Ok, ready to start making crêpes to celebrate? You'll need the right tools. My favorite (non-sponsored) pan is this Cuisinart one that my bestie gifted me a few years back.
Recipe wise, here are a few that P'Niche has had success with:
Fill it with whatever you want! Savory ideas like butter, ham, cheese/s, spinach, etc. are great and sweets like lemon, granular sugar and even chocolate-hazelnut spread with strawberries and/or bananas are just delicious. Get creative!
Lucky enough to celebrate Candlemas in Paris? Here are some favorite spots:
Breizh Café
109 Rue Vieille-du-Temple, 75003
Métro: Saint Paul
La Crêperie Mon Ami
7 Rue Joseph de Maistre, 75018
Métro: Abbesses
Crêperie des Pêcheurs
27 Rue Saint-André des Arts, 75006
Mêtro: Saint-Michel Nôtre-Dame
What do you say, P'Nicher? Are you ready to celebrate La Chandeleur/Candlemas in Paris? What was the best crêpe you had had the luxury to enjoy? Let us know in the crêpe-tastic comments below et à bientôt!
My choice in the US