how old is the tradition?

CANDLES. Why do we eat pancakes on Candlemas? If February 2 corresponds to a biblical event for Christians, the pancake would have an atheistic origin.

[Mis à jour le 30 janvier 2023 à 19h30] Thursday 2 February Candles will be celebrated. Does celebrating Christmas by eating pancakes have anything to do with Christianity? The origins of Candlemas, the festival of candlelight, are actually quite controversial.. In ancient Rome, at this time of the year, in early February, Lupercalia, the feast of the Faunus, the god of fertility and reproduction, was celebrated. The party had nothing to do with pancakes, it was more of a ceremony that drove individual people to a certain depravity. But the spirit of the holiday was to mark the beginning of a new period of the year, especially with the first sowing in the fields. In the ancient world, there are many festivals in Europe at this time to celebrate renewal and the return of light (the days are finally lengthening significantly). For example, in Ireland it was Imbolc, the god of fertility, and he was revered.

Christianity has adopted the date of February 2 since at least the fourth century, before the formalization of the event by Pope Gelasius. Today, Christians celebrate the presentation of Christ in the Temple, 40 days after Christmas, the day he appeared to the world. At the presentation of the son of Mary, Simeon would recognize the “divine nature” of Jesus. It is this sacred truth that will give Christians the meaning of the Candles, where the light brought to Earth will be celebrated. Believers would later develop the use of lighting candles. Hence the name Candlemas, which comes from the Latin word “Festa candelarum”, “candle festival”.“.

While some insist on respecting the classic pancake recipe, others like to add a little fantasy to the tradition, opting for a regional or completely original version. And all items are allowed. Here’s an easy crepe recipe below first in the video, then you’ll find the classic crepe recipe below, followed by more original recipes, from crepe Suzette to apple crepe, Sabayon de Calavadosa with pancake cake, Breton recipe for Farz. An Austrian recipe for Buen or Kaiserschmarrn.

• Classic recipe (ingredients for 4 people) : 250 grams of flour, 0.5 liters of milk, 50 grams of melted butter, 4 eggs, 2 tablespoons of sugar, 1 pinch of salt.
• Preparation : Put some first flour in a salad bowl. Add next sugar, eggs and melted butter. Then beat everything, pour a little milk: so you will get a liquid and smooth dough. It should be then let him rest keep the dough at room temperature for one to two hours. An extremely important stage that should not be avoided.
• To cook : After the preparation and waiting time, you can pour the dough into the heated pan. Don’t forget to oil the pan between each crepe using a paper towel. Without this, it will not be possible Blow it out as Candlemas tradition calls for. To make it float well, loosen it first with a spatula, then shake the pan to make sure the pancake doesn’t stick well. Next, a dry and firm strike of the wrist should give the expected result!
• Garnish : Depending on the taste, the accompaniment is different: sugar, chocolate, salted butter, honey, caramel, jam, chestnut cream, lemon, fruit… In short, pancake fillings are endless. There are also regional specialties: calvados and apples in Normandy, beer in dough in Alsace…

• The Crepe suzette A traditional crepe flambée recipe for purists. He mixes orange peel, oil, sugar cubes, orange juice with a cup of Grand Marnier. With the remaining Grand Marnier, it is traditional to burn the pancakes in front of the admiring guests. Discover the Grand Marnier crepe recipe or the simple crepe Suzette recipe.

• Brittany, the Farz Buen it’s a very thick pancake batter, it mixes like an omelette in the pan, lots of oil and sugar. Break the mixture into small golden and lightly fried pieces with a spatula. Decorate everything with jam or cocoa powder. Recipe.
• Austrian specialty, kaiserschmarrn A favorite pancake recipe of Francois-Joseph II and Empress Sissi, a real treat for those who usually miss pancakes! This is a pancake batter lightened with whipped egg whites, cut into large irregular pieces, very easy to make. Garnished with rum-soaked raisins or not, it can be accompanied by plum compote or prunes. Discover the recipe.

• the crepe cake it is the result of dozens of pancakes stacked on several floors. Then it’s up to you to garnish it with your desired ingredients. Pancake cake can be dark chocolate, nutella, lemon cream, strawberry coulis, caramel and even a salty version, with hard boiled eggs and tuna, salmon or crab/avocado! Discover all the variations of the pancake cake recipe.

• Looking for more authentic pancakes? Sweet Pancake Sushi, Rainbow Pancakes, Mini Banana Pancakes, Gluten Free Lace Pancakes, Capella or Pancake Lollipops, Lime Coconut Pancakes, Samosa Pancakes, Intense Chocolate Pancakes, Cone Pancakes, Pancake Rose Bouquet… Our 47 most original pancake recipes.

At the beginning of the 21st century, most French people continued these gastronomic rites, with regional characteristics that became more apparent in recent decades: calvados and apples in Normandy, beer in pastry in Alsace and the North, wheat flour in Brittany, etc. Find our top-up offers below:

The ingredients vary depending on the flavor: banana and chocolate, salted butter, orange blossom, honey, apple and caramel, chestnut cream, apple and Val de Rance cider, jam, beer, lemon, fruit, maple syrup, toffee or just a little sugar .

La Chandeleur owes its name to “Festa candelarum”: Latin for “festival of candles”. Believers would later develop the use of lighting candles or candles. This tradition is especially alive in churches: among Catholics, the priest can use this holiday to bless the candles of people who come to pray, bought in advance and to be used throughout the year. Devotees often take one home and display it in their windows on February 2. In the past, it was customary to remove Christmas items (saint, nativity scene, etc.) on the occasion of Sham. Golden-fleshed and disk-shaped, Candlemas crepes look similar to Epiphany galette. It was said in the countryside that if it was not used for crepe de la Chandeleur, the flour of the year would be lost. Around the 5th century, peasants therefore used surplus flour obtained during planting to make pancakes, symbolizing future prosperity.

Christianity has adopted the date of February 2 since at least the fourth century, before the formalization of the event by Pope Gelasius. Today, Christians celebrate the presentation of Christ in the Temple, 40 days after Christmas, the day he appeared to the world. At the presentation of the son of Mary, Simeon would recognize the “divine nature” of Jesus. It is this sacred truth that will give Christians the meaning of the Candles, where the light brought to Earth will be celebrated. Believers would later develop the use of lighting candles. Hence the name Candlemas, which comes from the Latin word “Festa candelarum”, “candle festival”.“.