The Catholic holiday of Candlemas, on 2 February, is a feast to commemorate the purification of the Virgin Mary and the presentation of baby Jesus. In France, this holiday is called la Chandeleur, Fête de la Lumière,* or jour des crêpes.
The belief is that if you can catch the crêpe with a frying pan after tossing it in the air with your left hand and holding a gold coin in your right hand, you will become rich that year…
Candlemas is also comparable to Groundhog Day, especially when one looks at proverbs associated with the holiday:
À la Chandeleur, l'hiver cesse ou reprend vigueur
On Candlemas, winter ends or strengthens
À la Chandeleur, le jour croît de deux heures
On Candlemas, the day grows by two hours
Chandeleur couverte, quarante jours de perte
Candlemas covered (in snow), forty days lost
Rosée à la Chandeleur, hiver à sa dernière heure
Dew on Candlemas, winter at its final hour
Crêpe Day is coming fast! So, go buy some Nutella, gather some friends, and celebrate!
-david
