Celebrate the return of light
If in the Christian tradition, on February 2, 40 days after Christmas, corresponds to the day of the presentation of Jesus, like all the firstborn boys of a family, in the temple, in the peasant tradition, the date marks the moment Where the days are starting to extend, on the return of light and farmers at agricultural work.
The candlestick takes its name from the Latin word “Candela”, meaning “candle”. Indeed, at the time of the Romans, the candlestick was a celebration in honor of the Pan God. Throughout the night, believers roam the streets of Rome while walking with torches, then having candles in their house to ensure good harvests the coming year. Then later … Eating pancakes!
Venerate the sun
As in many traditions, the feast of the candlestick is accompanied by its superstitions: if the peasants did not make pancakes on the day of the candlestick, the wheat would be bad the following year. “If there is no carbonal wheat, eats pancakes at La Candleur”.
Why do you eat pancakes on Candlemas day? The origin would be due to two main reasons. The pancakes by their round shape and their golden color would appear the return of the sun, expected at the end of winter and their making from the remains of flour of the previous year would be a symbol of prosperity for the coming year.
Hope prosperity
Make pancakes yes, but not anything! Indeed, the tradition is precise to be assured that the harvest will be good and the family thrives, it is advisable to blow up the first pancake of the right hand by holding a louis d’or in the left hand. Finally for the harvests to be abundant, it was customary to wrap the room in a pancake that was carried at the top of a wardrobe until the following year. At the next candlestick, we recovered everything and we give the room to the first poor that we meet. And for young single girls, the tradition recommended blowing up six pancakes in a row and making them fall back into the pan to ensure a wedding in the year. Fortunately, in 2023, it is no longer necessary to blow up the pancakes to find a soul mate!