I didn’t want you to miss celebrating La Chandeleur, so am reblogging my post about it from last February. Bon appetit!
Sweet or savoury?
Now that we’ve finished celebrating in January by eating la galette des rois, the king’s cake, it’s time to sweep away those crumbs and haul out the crêpes pan!
February 2nd, is La Chandeleur, Fête des Lumières, Jour des Crêpes. You might know it as Candlemas.
Churches will celebrate the tradition of the lighting of candles.
Then it will be all about … what else, this IS France … food!
Crêpes and cidre. Unlike our apple cider, this drink has a touch of alcohol.
The day is often accompanied by fortune telling and in many kitchens, crêpes are flipped in the air with the pan in one hand and a coin in the other. If the crêpe lands back in the pan, the year will be a prosperous one. Children hold their breath in anticipation!
Similar to our North American, Groundhog Day, there’s a prediction about winter. “Rosée à la Chandeleur, hiver à sa dernière heure.” If there is dew at dawn, winter will soon be over.
As the French do so well, the day is a fun-filled, family time. If you’re tempted to celebrate your own Jour des Crêpes, they are delicious and light and easy to make. Click right here for a recipe.
There are crêpe stands or crêperies everywhere in France and on Sunday there will be few people not enjoying this simple and delicious food with a filling of choice ~ sweet or savoury. Crêpes have a history that goes back to Biblical times and in France, Britanny is said to have established the true crêpe recipe.
Get in line right here! Bon appétit!
Have you ever made crêpes? Which do you prefer, the French crêpe or it’s slightly heavier English cousin, the pancake? Are you a fan of sweet or savoury?
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Give me French crepes any time! So-o-o-o-o good!
Oui! D’accord! I must admit I prefer them sweet!
This is now in my Facebook Timeline. Love this post, but as I said – stop eating and go back to writing the next book in the Provence series. We all want it NOW!
LOL, Martha. I would love to be eating one right now … and I am writing the next book … it’s going to take a while.Hopefully I will get to eat a crêpe or two while I’m working on it. I hope you do too. Are there any crêperies near your place?
I am still not familiar with restaurants in this area (we have moved recently), and even if I were, I could not go out to enjoy them often, let alone crêperies. However, I can assure you that the best crêpes can be had here, at home. We make them for dinner quite often (ham and cheese, spinach and ricotta) and as dessert (dulce de leche, nutella, chantilly with strawberries…) We have two pans going at the same time (Julia Child’s recipe). Come and join us any time – I’ll get 0ut of bed for you!!
What an invitation! I’m certain your crêpes would rank up there with the best of them! Bon appétit *uttered in Julia’s high-pitched voice*
You are very welcome to come an try them!!!
Savoury. Definitely savoury.
Then we won’t have to share. I’m definitely ordering sweet. Every time.
This is the time of the year where crepes fill my plate! Wherever we are I always make crepes. My kids are now all in college for the first year and it’s less fun! But I’m happy that they love crepes as much as I do. Thank you for this lovely post, Patricia.
I’m sure yours are delicious, Evelyne. I bet your children ask for them when they come home on breaks!
Hands down – sweet! Had one yesterday with a Nutella like filling – delicious!
Ahhhhh ~ chocolate in crêpes! Heaven! Lucky you!
I love crepes and thank you for the recipe. I’ve never tried to make them, but will certainly give it a go.
I’ve heard of Candlemas but never really knew what it was all about. Thanks for sharing and Happy Candlemas (a little late). Is that how you’d say it? Happy? Joyous?
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
Happy and joyous will do just fine, thanks. Crêpes are surprisingly simple to make. You’ll see! Bon appetit!
I’m equal opportunity, Patricia. I love both sweet and savory crêpes though I admit a fondness for chocolate, like you. My first job after graduate school was as a crêpière in a French restaurant. Oh, the finger burns I came home with!
Well that’s very cool to know, Nancy. Do you still like to make crêpes or did you have your fill of them back in the day?
What a lovely post, Patricia. I know I am going to sound like a complete alien but I never had crepes before, sadly! I’ve seen them at buffets when we travel to all-inclusives but have yet to taste. They do look delicious.
Did you know that the winter sun of Candlemas time is said by the French to look like a pancake? Sounds far-fetched to me!
Hmmm ~ I’m inclined to agree with you, Margaret! 🙂
I became fond of crepes while living in France. A favorite brunch place of ours used to do them up perfectly. Tom used to make them occasionally at home but he’s no longer cooking. Darn.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!