This weekend was Twelfth night, time to take down all the Christmas decorations, even though it doesn't seem very long since we put them up! However, once they are all packed away, it's a good time to re-look at the house & perhaps rearrange objects, add a colour or buy a little something to change the look; start afresh for the new year ahead.
Here in this part of France, it is traditional to have a galette des rois (cake of kings) on Twelfth night, to celebrate the Epiphany. It takes its name from the biblical three kings or Magi & people get together pour tirer les rois (to find the kings). Made from flaky pastry & filled with frangipane, it also contains a féve (dried bean or charm). The galette is cut into one slice for each person sitting at the table plus
one. The extra slice is symbolic for the first poor person passing by.
The youngest child, said to be the most innocent and fair, sits under the table & announces who gets the next slice. Whoever finds the féve becomes king and wears the crown. The féve was initially a dried bean but over the years this has been replaced by porcelain or plastic figurines. Traditionally, these used to be in the form of a saint or biblical figure but today tend to be more popular characters, like Asterix. They have also become quite collectible. The galette des rois are usually available in bakeries until the end of January.
We were invited to our own feast on Twelfth night with lovely food & company. Jenny, our host, baked her own galette des rois, topped with a crown made by the children. It was really scrummy but very filling. As she handed each of us a piece, we searched for la fève, but no luck. There was a sliver left for her &, you've guessed it, she had won la fève. She was a little embarrassed but we insisted she wear the crown. In the true sense of liberté, égalité, fraternité, she said we should take a turn at wearing it so we could all be a king (or queen).
Thank goodness Madame Guillotine is no longer in use!
À bientôt,
