La Chandeleur : A French Celebration!


Every year on February 2nd, French people celebrate La Chandeleur. On this date, we used to cook crepes, that we would then flip in the skillet while holding a golden coin in the hand, which will bring us luck all year long.

Originally, crepes parties were part of a casual winter family routine that the Catholics picked as the celebration of Jesus Presentation to the Temple.

Chandeleur comes from the latin Festa Candelarum, which means “lights celebration”. Since they were highly superstitious, country people used to make it a special occasion, preparing crepes to get the benefit of a great wheat harvest the next year.

This is a crepes recipe that both children and adults will enjoy and that you can, obviously, prepare all year long. You only need a bowl, a whisk, a ladle, a skillet and a stove.

For an average of 15 crepes you’ll need:

  • 3 Cups of flour
  • 3 eggs
  • 3 table spoons of sugar
  • 2 table spoons of corn oil
  • 2 oz of melted butter
  • 20 fl oz (2 ½ cups) of milk
  • 1 pinch of salt

Here is how to prepare the batter:
First you pour the flour then add the eggs, sugar, oil, melted butter and the salt. You can start mixing the whole thing with the whisk while pouring milk little by little. You must make the batter has to be thick but liquid.

Now you heat up the skillet with some oil (you don’t want the crepe to stick on the pan) and you pour a ladle of batter to cover the skillet. After the batter is cooked enough you flip the crepe to cook the other side. You can challenge yourself by flipping the crepe in the air with the pan!

French people enjoy hot crepes with a glass of cider, which is an apple-based soft alcoholic sparkling drink. You can enjoy it plain or with marmalade or sugar and lemon.

Bon appétit!