La Chandeleur is the French holiday we celebrate on February 2, and traditionally, we celebrate by making and eating crêpes. Another time for new beginnings – and in France, some delicious crêpes, apparently to symbolize the sun and the days getting longer.
La Chandeleur is one of those “Christian” holidays that has mixed origins. In Roman times, mid-February was the celebration of Lupercalia, and the Celts celebrated Imbolc, or Saint Brigid’s Day, at the beginning of February, to celebrate the arrival of Spring. For early Christians, La Chandeleur was a celebration 40 days after Christmas, and the New Moon around this time is the beginning of the Chinese new year as well. I always find it fascinating how different cultures and countries end up with similar holidays around the same time.
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