A Christian celebration for some, pancake tasting for others, Candlemas brings together families and friends every February 2.
The opportunity to enjoy the famous golden pancakes.
Once the belly is full, the discussions wander from one subject to another and then the famous question on the origin of Candlemas arrives on the table.
No one really knows her, hypotheses are rife.
This year, we take the lead and impress our loved ones.
Cultural point on the origin of the candlelight festival.
To discover
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From pagan celebration to Christianity
During the ancient period, the Romans used to celebrate Pan, the god of nature, every year.
Half man, half goat, this divinity, known thanks to his flute, protected shepherds and their flocks.
Thus, on the evening of February 15, the people of Rome took to the streets holding a torch in their hands.
This ritual was intended to protect the land and livestock of farmers.
In 472, Pope Gelasius I, wishing to celebrate a literary passage from the Gospel, Christianized this festival.
Thus, every February 2, the faithful had to light candles at the Church and bring them back to their homes.
By this act, they commemorated the presentation of Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem as well as the end of the Christmas cycle.
The Bible says that Mary's child would have been, at that moment, recognized by the prophet Simeon as a "child of light", thus symbolizing, for the Christian community, the beginning of its epic.
Crepes, a whole symbol
But then why do we eat crepes?
This tradition being very old, several theories explain the advent of these golden pancakes on this formerly religious day.
The esoteric theory:
some think that its shape being round and its yellow color, it represents the sun and thus evokes the end of the winter period and the beginning of spring.
A saying dating from 1922, found in the archives of Le
Figaro
, supports this legend in a very poetic way: "On Candlemas, winter passes or takes effect".
Let's hope that this year the proverb is true and that the summer period is fast approaching.
The historical theory:
if we go back to the 3rd century, we discover that Pope Gelasius would have offered cakes to pilgrims who arrived in Rome.
The tradition of preparing it would have been taken up by many believers.
Should we thank this pope for eating delicious pancakes on February 2?
The popular theory:
this culinary tradition would also be linked to a popular belief.
“If you don’t want sooty wheat, eat pancakes on Candlemas.”
Translation, if we didn't make pancakes on February 2, the wheat harvest wouldn't be good.
A reference to the god Pan?
From golden louis to pledge, the evolution of traditions
Happiness on Candlemas Day, for those who eat pancakes with a gold coin in their fingers
At the beginning of the 20th century, a superstition emerged.
On Candlemas, you absolutely must fry the first pancake in the pan with your right hand while holding a golden louis in your left hand.
“Happiness, today, Candlemas Day, for those who eat pancakes with a gold coin in their fingers,” wrote Rosine, columnist for Le
Figaro
in 1923. The coin was then rolled in the pancake and placed in a cupboard During a year.
After this long period, we recovered the piece which we then gave to a destitute person.
If the rite was respected, the family would experience long prosperity.
Later, a simple coin in the hand when frying the pancake was enough to glimpse the riches to come.
Today the room has disappeared but the ritual of frying pancakes is still present in the kitchens.
If it falls, you know the rule, that's the guarantee!
This article has been updated and was originally published on February 2, 2017.
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