Chandeleur = It’s time for crepes!

,

Fellow Francophones gathered to celebrate winter with a glass of cidre and a freshly prepared crepe made by our expert chef, Rich Stoops.

There are many different traditions that surround the holiday of the Chandeleur. Though La Chandeleur is often associated with the Catholic holiday Candlemas, the lighting of candles, it actually comes from pagan traditions. Some say Chandeleur celebrates the return of sunny days in the winter, compared to our celebration of Ground Hog Day, the crepes symbolizing the sun, others believe that using flour left over from the harvest ensures prosperity in the coming year.

There is also the traditional coin ritual: if you flip a crepe while holding a coin in the other hand, you and your family will not have to worry about financial difficulties.

Special thanks to Micheline for hosting this delightful winter’s day.

Click here for a look back at our event.

Chandeleur 2018 Photo Gallery
/by

La Fête des Trois Rois

,

On January 7th, we celebrated the peak of the holiday season in the Christian tradition, the commemoration of the arrival of the three kings with gifts for the newborn Jesus. The traditional Epiphany galette, or king’s cake, which dates back to Roman times, will be served. Secretly hidden in this cake will be a treasure that will raise its finders to the level of royalty.

Here are some photos from this event that took place at our Alliance Française Center in Southbury

                

       

/by

December Holiday Brunch

,

At our Holiday Brunch this year, delicious French-inspired food was brought by all the participants.

This was followed by the traditional “Gallette des Rois” in celebration typically of Epiphany, the day the Three Kings (les rois) visited the infant Jesus. These cakes are baked throughout the month of January in France. Composed of two circles of puff pastry sandwiching a frangipani filling, each comes with a crown and always has a trinket, called a fève, or bean, baked into it. It’s an invitation to gather, as much party game as pastry – if your slice has the fève, you get the crown and the right to be king or queen for the day.

Click below for photos from the event.

 

 

 

Holiday Brunch 2017 Photo Gallery
/by