Today is February 2, 2022, and it is the Chandeleur, a famous French holiday.
Chandeleur, or Candlemas, seems to have several origins.
In Roman times, it was a festival dedicated to King Pan. The believers walked around the city waving candles and torches, hence the name Candlemas. It would then have become the festival of lights.
In 476, the Pope made it a religious festival, celebrated 40 days after Christmas, to celebrate the presentation of Jesus in the Temple. The believers would go to the church to get a candle and would have to bring it home without extinguishing the flame.
But there are other versions of the origin of the feast. It seems that this festival also originated from pagan traditions to celebrate the fertility of the earth. Patties, a kind of salted pancake, were distributed to the poor pilgrims who arrived in Rome. It is also said that this festival dates back to the Roman Parentalia in honour of the dead, Pluto and the gods.
On Chandeleur, we make crepes and eat them with family and friends. Crepes are really easy to make, they are made with cheap ingredients (milk, flour, egg and sugar), and there is something for everyone: jam, spread, fruit, sugar...
Several customs exist to bring good luck such as throwing a crepe over the cupboard. In my family, we often blow up the crepes with a gold ring or a coin in the left hand.
Shortly before Candlemas, there is some marketing around the holiday. TV ads promoting non-adhesive pans, shops offering boxes with practical crepes-making utensils and spreads being prominently displayed. I find the promotions simple, fun and with good vibes. But I think that is not enough.
I personally always forget the date and don't watch TV to see the ads. And when I go to shops, it's often small shelves displaying the products, so it's easy to miss them. And when I do manage to see more products or advertisements on display, it is often at the last minute. I think then that maybe the marketing is not strong enough or maybe not done early enough.
I don't think it's a bad thing that there is marketing around this holiday. It keeps the tradition alive instead of being forgotten. It is accessible to everyone.
Plus, the good thing is that I have the strong impression that the Chandeleur has become detached from religion, so it is no longer exclusively reserved for believers, but everyone. It allows us to create good moments with family and friends.
Today, even in England, I will cook my little crepes and invite my friends to have a good time and enjoy!
Thanks to my sister for making me think about it :)
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