Why do we eat pancakes at Candlemas?
Candlemas, also known as Chandeleur, has arrived. This February 2, the gourmet smell of pancakes will invade numerous homes...
Candlemas is celebrated 40 days after the birth of Jesus Christ (Christmas, December 25). It refers to the presentation of Jesus in the temple.
This Christian festival is also synonymous with the return of spring, and therefore of light. The pancakes many like to eat on this specific day are round, just like the sun. This is one way of explaining why they're associated with Chandeleur.
What's for more, at the time, harvesting began in May and it was one of the most critical periods of the year, as the rural population's food supply depended on this very moment. Preparing pancakes in February was a way of showing others that the granary was still well-stocked, a sign that there was no shortage of resources.
According to tradition, anyone who eats pancakes will have a prosperous year, so grab your forks!
(MH with AsD - Source : actu.fr - Illustration : Unsplash)