Next Friday, January 6, the Epiphany feast takes place and with it the tasting of a famous dessert. From the importance of the Three Kings to the debate on the galette or the crown of the kings, and the fève: what exactly do we celebrate during Epiphany? Answers.
The month of January begins with the feast of theEpiphany. With family or friends, Christian or not, we get together for a day to taste the famous king cake. A sweet and gourmet dessert, which delights and amuses young and old. But apart from the famous frangipane, who really knows what Epiphany is all about, what this holiday celebrates and what is its history? Here is some information to share between the cake and the crown (yes! why choose?)
What is the date of Epiphany in 2023?
As every year, Epiphany, a Christian holiday, takes place on January 6, twelve days after the birth of Jesus Christ. But to celebrate it with the family, it is customary to celebrate it on another date, the 6th not always falling on a weekend and not being a public holiday. Moreover, religiously also, the services of celebration of the Epiphany can take place the following Sunday. And more generally, the French are used to drawing kings throughout the first half of January.
Why does Epiphany fall on January 6?
The feast of Epiphany was established by the Church in the 4th century on January 6 to celebrate, shortly after the birth of Jesus, the recollection of the Magi around his cradle. You should also know that Epiphany takes place 12 days after Christmas. These 12 days also represent the difference between the lunar calendar and the solar calendar. Note that a year is 12 lunar months., knowing that a month then corresponds to the period between two new moons, i.e. 29.5 days for a total of 354 days. Almost 12 days are missing (one per month) to make the solar year.
Why do we say Epiphany?
Epiphany comes from Latin Epiphany, which translates to “appearance”. In the New Testament, the term “Epiphany” is used to designate the advent of Christ and his reignas well as its manifestation on Earth.
What is the origin of Epiphany, who are the Magi?
It is a Christian holiday, established by the Church in the IVe century, with the aim of celebrating thearrival of the Three Magi come to adore the Messiah, that is to say the child Jesus, in his cradle. Coming from the East, they visited him and offered him gifts twelve days after his birth, the time to make the journey guided by a star. According to the Gospel of Saint Matthew, the first magus, Melchior, an old man with white hair and a long beard offered gold signifying the Kingship of Christ. The second mage, Gaspard, a young man, offered incense to Jesus in homage to his divinity. At last, Balthazar, a black man, offered myrrh, an aromatic gum-resin which was used to embalm the dead, and which reminded us of the humanity of Jesus, therefore that he had to die.
Why do we eat a galette des rois at theEpiphany?
On the day of Epiphany, it is customary to eat the galette des rois. You have to go back to Roman times to understand the history of this dessert. On the occasion of the winter solstice celebrations, the inhabitants consumed a cake in the shape of a circle, supposed to represent the sun.
What is the origin of the bean?
At the time, each pancake contained a bean. The person who won the latter was crowned as king or queen of the evening. While the bean inserted into the dessert was first a legume (the bean), it was then replaced by a gold coin, then by a porcelain bean in the 19the century. Even today, a bean is put in the cakes and the person who finds it in his share becomes in turn king or queen and puts on his crown (in paper).
When to eat the galette des rois?
Certainly the Epiphany has an official date but not the galette des rois. This cake can be eaten on the day the whole family gets together, often on a weekend, but also throughout January. Bakeries and shops produce it for weeks, so there is no specific day to go buy it, or to taste it. Know that the French have a habit of shooting kings during the entire first half of January!
Frangipane pancake, brioche, king cake, what to choose?
Epiphany is of course associated with the puff pastry galette stuffed with frangipanebut depending on the regions of France such as in the south or in Provence for example, we also taste the cake or the Brioche kings, with candied fruit. Something to enjoy again after the end of the year celebrations, but also to pay homage to a tradition firmly rooted in the culture of the country.
Crown of kings, beans… What DIY activities with children?
For the Epiphany, children can, in addition to feasting on the galette des rois, have fun doing some manual activities, in particular the making a pretty wreath in paper or cardboard that will be worn proudly by a king or queen for a day. Here are all our tutorials on the subject of Epiphany.