Patricia Sands

Author

La Fête Des Mères

by

If it’s Friday, it must be France …

In Canada and the U.S.A, this Sunday, the second Sunday in May, is Mother’s Day. Well, officially it’s Mother’s Day … we all know in reality every day is Mother’s Day. Where would we be without them?

Mother’s Day in France this year is June 3.

The date is fixed to the last Sunday of May, except in the case of Pentecost Sunday  and then the festival is postponed until that date.

France’s tradition was inaugurated by Napoleon and made official in 1920.

As you might expect in the foodalicious culture of that country. Special cakes are often created for this day.

Many of them are in floral designs such as these on the left … almost too beautiful to eat!

As I was looking up information for this post … um, you wonder (???) why my current WIP still  isn’t finished … there are distractions like blogging!

Okay, where was I …

I happened upon the wonderful blog of Myriam, an Australian writer who also shares fabulous posts on France … another fine example of the global melting pot of information in this amazing blogosphere of ours. You are going to love her site!

This is a cake she made while in France  a couple of years ago celebrating La Fête with her mother and grandmother. Magnifique, oui?  Now if you are like me … I suck at baking baking is not my forté … with the exception of my Christmas shortbread cookies which I have to admit are delicious (based on the rapid disappearance of any batch left unattended) and I have my dear long-departed Gram to thank for that recipe.

But I digress … as I often do …

This cake is from a very famous Paris bakery and comes in a kit! Woohoo! I can do kits!

Myriam has shared all of the necessary ingredients from this kit and how-to photos on her blog. Click here to see how for yourself. Even baking-challenged moi can whip up this impressive delight!

If you are looking for something different to prepare for your mom this weekend, this might be just the ticket. (Don’t you love that plate too?)

While you are planning the rest of your celebration for Mother’s Day, here are a few quotes to ponder.

L’avenir d’un enfant est l’oeuvre de sa mere-The future of a child is the work of his mother. -Napoleon Bonaparte.

Le coeur d’une mere est un abîme au fond duquel se trouve toujours le pardon.-The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness.-Honore de Balzac, a 19th century French novelist and playwright.

Une maman formidable donne toujours une grand-mere exceptionnelle.-A great mother always makes an exceptional grandmother.-Jean Gastaldi, French writer.

A little historical note: the United Kingdom was the first country to begin celebrating mothers in the 1600’s. Mothering Sunday occurs on the fourth Sunday in Lent so the date changes from year to year.

My dear mom died 6 years ago at the age of 92 (with a better memory than mine right to the end!). We will honour her on Sunday, as I will be feted by  my children and grandchildren, and as I will honour our daughters and daughters-in-law. Amazing mothers all.  Whether the mothers you honour are present or live on in your heart, whatever you do, celebrate with that attitude of gratitude! 

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Comments

  1. Beautiful post Patricia – Happy Mother’s Day!
    That cake looks divine and like I might even be able to manage it. LOL! I might just give it a try, if not this weekend, another time for Mom. Hubby and I are taking her out to her favorite brunch on Sunday and then hubby and I are heading off for a 2 hour drive to go lay some flowers at his Mom’s gravesite and do some sunset hiking in her honor. Honoring Mom’s (here and departed) on Sunday is just a perfect way to spend the day. Here’s to you and yours and the joy and laughter I know you’ll enjoy! 🙂

    • I just read your post about your beautiful day. No matter what is going on, there’s always laughter in your life! I did have a lovely day with several of our family members … including The Adorables, of course, thanks! It’s tough to get them all together these days!

  2. I just made a cheesecake for my mother-in-law for Mother’s Day. Different topping than the one in this blog, but still good I hope. I hadn’t thought to make it in the shape of a heart. Nice idea. Making me hungry now! (Very easy recipe but I’ll check out the one on your blog too). I love French cooking (and baking). How do the French stay so slim?

  3. Those treats look scrumptious, Patricia. Mouth watering! How interesting about the history of Mother’s Day. I didn’t know it was started all those centuries ago! Wow, you mom lived a long life. That’s wonderful that you’ll honor her, along with all the other mothers in your family, on Mother’s Day. Have a wonderful time with your family.

  4. Bonne fête maman!

    I hope you have a marvelous Mother’s Day Patricia.

    Oooooh, those cakes look to die for. I’m super excited to check out your friend’s blog… more France? Yes please. I loved learning a little history of Mother’s Day and also how it’s celebrated in France. This year it will be on my son’s birthday. How cool is that? Well, for me it’s cool, for everyone else, it’s only cool to the moms. 🙂

    I love that you and Natalie will be honoring your moms this Sunday, that just fills my heart with warmth. You two are amazing women whose mothers should be so proud to call you their daughters.

    As I am proud to call you my friends.

    • Merci, ma chère ami! Double celebrations are even better! How lovely to have your son’s birthday and Mother’s Day together … very special indeed!

  7. Bonne fête Patricia. I am looking forward to seeing what the boulangeries will have on offer this year, always a pleasure to visit and come away with the ribboned box. I quite like to bake, but baking is no comparison to what they offer here, its more of an art form.

    • An art form, indeed! I could never pass the window of any boulangerie without pausing to admire the day’s creations. I hope you had a lovely day too.

      • I did indeed, very special though more of a Father’s Day moment, as my birth father is geting married next month in Belfast, Northern Ireland and asked me yesterday to be his “best person” – he always has been a bit of a hippie, but I am overjoyed! 🙂

  8. What a delicious selection of cakes… could I have some, too? I live between two cultures celebrating mothering Sunday on two different days. In the UK, mothering Sunday is tied to the church calendar and Easter (I don’t know the specifics, I’m afraid) but it’s usually some time in March. In Germany, on the other hand, mother’s day is always, always the second Sunday in May. I get treated by my boys according to the UK calendar, but then have to remember my Mum (who still lives in Germany) according to the German calendar. For the past 20 years, she’s been getting original home made cards because of course there are no Mother’s Day cards to be had in the UK in May. You would have thought I would remember to plan ahead after all this time but… no, each year it sneaks up on me again. Like this year! If you hadn’t posted, I would have probably clean forgotten, terrible daughter that I am! **hangs head in shame** Great post, Patricia, thanks!! X

    • How interesting to celebrate Mother’s Day in two very different cultures. I’m guessing your mom loves those home made cards much better than the commercial variety!

  9. The cakes are beautiful, Patricia! Love the quote “The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness.” So true! Enjoy your day! I’ll be with my mother, my kids and grands on Monday.