The French Winter Holiday Celebrated By Eating Crêpes
In the United States, it turns out, there is no shortage of national holidays assigned to your favorite foods. It seems nearly every calendar day is an honorary foodie holiday dedicated to some delicious treat or meal. From National Bagel Day on January 15 to National Ravioli Day on March 20 and National Bacon Day on December 30, there is a reason to celebrate your go-to dishes every day, according to Delish.
However, foodie holidays are not just a U.S. phenomenon. Britain celebrates British Yorkshire Pudding Day on February 6 (according to Charlotte's Lively Kitchen), Sweden celebrates Waffle Day on March 25, and July 10 rings in Brazil's Pizza Day, as per Good Things Guy. With all these delicious dedications, it's fitting that France has a holiday reserved for eating one of its most iconic dishes: crêpes.
However, February 2 in France, known as La Chandeleur, is about much more than chowing down on a favorite dish (per Thought Co.) The country's holiday is steeped in superstition, historical tradition, and, of course, tasty crêpes.
Celebrating Jour des Crêpes
La Chandeleur, or Candlemas, is an annually celebrated Catholic holiday that commemorates the Virgin Mary's purification after childbirth and the presentation of baby Jesus to God, according to Thought Co. However, the current religious holiday is historically rooted in a much older pre-Christian holiday which celebrated the harvest and halfway point of winter, as per Condé Nast Traveller. Today, for many the celebration has evolved into a day all about eating crêpes — something we can get behind.
However, there are a few superstitions that many observe before cutting into their celebratory crêpes. According to Condé Nast Traveller, many people will place a coin on top of their crêpe while cooking them. This is supposed to bring forth good luck. Others will hold the coin in their right hand while flipping over the crêpes with their left. If the cook can do this successfully, they will have a successful new year, as the site explains.
Another superstition comes in the form of weather. According to Thought Co., if there is snow or dew on the holiday, there will be another 40 days of winter. However, if it is clear skies, then winter has officially come to an end.
So, this year, if letting a groundhog predict your seasonal fortunes isn't your thing, feel free to partake in eating a few crêpes to see how your luck will fare in the coming year.