Today is the Feast of La Chandeleur - The Day of the Crêpe
Above: caramel heaven on a plate
***
While enjoying crêpes at a local crêperie is tempting (and better than not having crêpes at all), the proper way to celebrate La Chandeleur is to make them yourself at home. Tradition holds that the crêpes should be flipped skillfully, ideally holding a gold coin (or any coin for luck and wealth) in your left hand while tossing the crêpe with your right. If you don’t get that first flip right - it breaks, folds, drops on the floor, sticks to the ceiling, lands in the dog's bowl - it's seen as an omen for the year ahead, while a clean flip is said to bring prosperity for the coming year. Subsequent crêpes are flipped just for fun, without the same high-stakes superstition attached. Often the pan is then passed around for everyone to try their hand at dramatic flips (and laugh when they inevitably go wrong). If, knowing all this, you're still game, grab a pan, a coin, and give it a try. Whether they land like pros or end up as "creative shapes," it's all part of the magic. - BPJ
- Bon Appétit and Bonne Chandeleur -
