February gets off to a flying start right at the beginning of the month, with La Chandeleur on February 2nd.
This festival is based on a Christian festival that marks the day when Mary and Joseph presented Jesus at the Temple. It was originally called Candlemas, but it did have Pagan origins connected with the sun, light and, of course, candles (leschandelles), which later on, as the festival was subsumed into the Christian calendar, reminded us that Christ is the light.
This festival takes place after Epiphany. So, you’ve not long finished your Galette des Rois, then you can move on to eating crêpes! People traditionally made pancakes at this time of the year, and these pancakes symbolised the return of the sun after the long winter days.
The favourite pancake toppings in France are, of course, chocolate spread such as Nutella or a sprinkling of sugar – I have yet to find Golden Syrup anywhere! You can expect to see pancakes on sale in artisan boulangeries, in schools for lunch, in the office on La Chandeleur and, of course, in the home.
Top tip: our current gîte guest advised me to add a lug of Cognac to the batter, and it is sooo worth doing!