La Chandeleur or Candlemas is celebrated in France
La Chandeleur is also known as Candlemas and the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus and the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary and is a French tradition. It commemorates the presentation of Jesus at the temple.
In France this commemoration is linked to eating crêpes or pancakes and is called Pancake Day. It is celebrated on the 2nd of February and there are a couple of rather strange rituals that surround the way you cook your crêpes.
Eating Crêpes on La Chandeleur or Candlemas
Throughout France the date is also considered to be the day of crêpes. The tradition of eating crêpes at Candlemas is attributed to Pope Gelasius the 1st, who had pancakes distributed to pilgrims as they arrived in Rome.
It is also said the tradition of eating crêpes started as it was a good way of using up the extra wheat before a new harvest. Symbolically, as a round crêpe looks like the sun, it was also a good reason to rejoice as the days started to get longer.
As well as eating pancakes or crêpes during Candlemas, all candles in the house are lit. It can be quite an enjoyable experience with a magical atmosphere eating the family dinner of crêpes under candlelight.
Tradition also has many households putting their manger or nativity scenes away on this day as Candlemas is the last feast of the Christmas cycle.
Pancake traditions
La Chandleleur or Candlemas with its unusual mixture of lit candles and eating crêpes gets even more interesting with the symbolism attached to the preparation of your crêpes.
Okay, so while holding a gold coin in your left hand, you need to flip the crêpe in the air with your right hand ensuring that the crêpe lands properly back in the pan. Good luck with this! The symbolism attached to this way of flipping your crêpe dates back to the late fifth century and is linked to a fertility rite.
Further, it is said that the first crêpe made should be put into an armoire (wardrobe) to ensure your plentiful harvest later in the year.
Shrove Tuesday and Crêpes in France
It is often asked with the French eating crêpes on la Chandleleur day, do they also eat crêpes or pancakes on Shrove Tuesday like many other countries do? And the answer is no they don’t. Shrove Tuesday is celebrated as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday in France and fatty foods are eaten instead. Read more on the Mardi Gras or Nice Carnival that celebrates Fat Tuesday.
Enjoy your crêpes and soft candlelight on Candlemas and for more French celebration days and public holidays see our Calendar of French Public Holidays and National Celebration Days.
More French traditions include: Fête des Meres – Mother’s Day, La Toussaint – All Saints Day and Fête du nationale – Bastille Day, 14 July
