Tuesday, January 6, 2009

I Had An Epiphany*

...I Mean It's The Epiphany

Even in China, and thanks to the French Bakery “Comptoirs de France”, we can pass French traditions to our kids!

Epiphany (greek for for "to manifest" or "to show"), is a Christian feast day which celebrates the revelation of God in Human form in the person of Jesus Christ. Epiphany falls on January 6.

In France, on Epiphany people eat the “galette des Rois” (a king of King Cake). Tradition holds that the cake is “to draw the kings” to the Epiphany. A figurine/trinket (usually a porcelain figurine of a king) or a bean is hidden in the cake and the person who finds the trinket “la fève” (literally the broad bean) in their slice becomes king for the day and will have to offer the next cake. A paper crown is included with the cake to crown the "king" who finds the fève in their piece of cake. To ensure a random distribution of the cake shares, it is traditional for the youngest person to place themselves under the table and name the recipient of the share which is indicated by the person in charge of handing out the pieces of cake.
flaky puff pastry layers with a dense center of frangipane


* Epiphany: the sudden realization or comprehension of the essence or meaning of something.