Lees in France

January 6, 2023 – Epiphany

Here in France January 6 is celebrated by eating la Galette des roisa, “King’s Cake.” The cake is more of a brioche or a puffed pastry and is filled with frangipane – a blend of almond cream and pastry cream. Mz rode her bike, with her new backpack, to the local bakery this morning and brought one home with her. It comes with a golden paper crown. It is eaten on this day to be reminded of the wise men visiting baby Jesus in Bethlehem.

In America I have seen them in grocery stores sprinkled in purple, green and yellow sugar crystals, more Madri Gras in nature. I have never had one but have heard a plastic baby is hidden inside. The person who finds the baby becomes king for the day. Interestingly enough in France a porcelain figurine is baked into the pastry. Upon reading about this French tradition I came to realize the little ceramic figurines I found at the thrift store to make our nativity scene were probably all from king’s cakes. I also bought one for Z-Yoda, Mz-Davy Crockett and a Fox (Jenny L. Cote) and Randy-Manny the wooly mammoth from Ice Age.

A midafternoon snack is when we cut into the cake. The pastry was delicious. No one found a ceramic figure this go round. Maybe we will have a king or queen for the night.

Voilà! We had an evening snack and Mz found the ceramic figure of a Muscovy Duck. I cannot find the symbolism of this duck, France, and the number 1. Oh well! Sometimes Cody acts like a king and such a gentleman with his legs crossed!!