Candlemas

Feast of Catholic tradition, Candlemas originally celebrates the presentation of the baby Jesus Christ at the Temple, exactly 40 days after his birth. It is in memory of this event, that from 492 was organized an annual procession, during which were lighted blessed candles. The feast of Candlemas also takes its name from the Latin festa candelarum (candlelight festival).

It was during one of these processions that the traditional sharing of pancakes was born each February 2nd . In order to encourage and reward the many pilgrims who came to Rome to celebrate Candlemas, Pope Gelasius I distributed them pancakes (crispus, wavy in Latin), called "forgetfulness" at that time, giving birth to the famous tradition.

Therefore, we find all kinds of pancakes or pancakes in all the civilizations of the Old and New World ... and yes, greediness is universal! Whether they are thin, thick, crunchy, fluffy, big or small, pancakes know how to seduce through all horizons!

The analysis of the expert: Gérard Mermet *

For two centuries, the life of the French was based on a simple and apparently indisputable principle: economic growth promotes social and human progress. However, in the current context of economic and ecological threats, this relationship no longer seems assured. Also, today many would like to stop the time, return to the "fundamentals". Among them, the ability to live together, that is to say in harmony with others, but also with nature, a forgotten character of developed societies. Hence the growing craze for the home, the local, the terroir, the authentic, the near.

The holidays included in the calendar are all pretexts to find the social and natural bond distended, to ward off uncertainty. Among them, the Candlemas has a special vocation. Half-pagan (cult of the bear from Antiquity to the Middle Ages), half-religious (officialized by Pope Gelasius I in the fifth century), it symbolizes the current desire for sharing and celebration. "The appearance of the Candlemas is accomplished only because of a complete and absolute sympathy between the people it connects," wrote Charles Nodier, one of the founders of Romanticism.

Mardi Gras

Christian festival, Mardi Gras is celebrated every year at a different date calculated according to that of Easter, itself dependent on the moon. It is the eve of Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of a 40 day Lent period. Before this little month and a half of deprivation, the tradition wants everyone to party and eat what he likes: pancakes, waffles, bugnes and other delicacies are in order! in 2010, mardi gras is Tuesday, February 16th!

* Sociologist, consultant, author of Francoscopie 2010 (eds Larousse). www.francoscopie.fr