How to Celebrate La Chandeleur

In France, the second day of February is a religious day and celebrated like Candlemas. La Chandeleur is also day for predicting the future similar to Groundhog Day in the United States. However, it is not a furry critter that foresees your fortune - it's a crêpe!

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Candles
• Matches
• Coins
• Pans
• Spatulas

La Chandeleur as a Celebration

1. Celebrate Candlemas by taking a candle to church to be blessed by the clergyperson.

2. Light as many candles in your home by using the blest candle. This will spread the blessing around your home.

3. Invite family and friends to join you for a traditional crêpe lunch or dinner.

4. Attempt to make beignets instead of crêpes. Both are traditional goodies for La Chandeleur.

5. Follow the directions below to predict your future.

La Chandeleur to Predict the Future

1. Make crêpe batter.

2. Find a French franc or another lucky coin.

3. Cook a crêpe on one side.

4. Loosen the crêpe from the pan with your spatula/pancake turner.

5. Hold the franc/coin in your weakest hand (for example, the left if you are right-handed), when the crêpe is ready to be turned.

6. Attempt single-handedly to flip the crêpe.

7. Enjoy good luck for the rest of the year if the crêpe lands perfectly in the pan. Suffer bad luck if the crêpe does not land well - or try again!

8. Enjoy your crêpes with jam, butter, powdered sugar, or make a wonderful filling of meats, cheeses, seafood, mushrooms, and vegetables.

9. Learn the French rhyme: "Quand la Chandeleur est claire, l'hiver est par derriere; Chandeleur couverte, quarante jours de perte!" (If February 2 is clear, no more winter to fear; if the Chandeleur is overcast, forty days winter to last).

Tips & Warnings

• In the Christian religion, Candlemas celebrates the day when baby Jesus Christ was taken to the Temple forty days after his birth. He was brought before Simeon who declared Him to be "the Light of the World." The celebration of La Chandeleur originates from the Middle Ages when candles, especially blest candles, were thought to chase the evil demons away thereby protecting a home.

• Practice flipping your crêpe before you try your luck.

• Grease your crêpe pan heavily with butter or oil in order to make the flip easier.

• Remember to be careful around the open flames of the candles.