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About la Chandeleur
Also called Crêpe Day, la Chandeleur is a French holiday during which people traditionally eat crêpes and drink cidre (not to be confused with apple cider, this beverage is only for people over 21!).
Though la Chandeleur is often associated with the Catholic holiday of Candlemas, it actually stems from pagan traditions. While some say Chandeleur celebrates the return of sunny days (crêpes symbolize the sun), others say that making crêpes using flour left over from the harvest ensures prosperity in the coming year.
And, of course, there is the traditional coin ritual: if you can flip a crêpe while holding a coin in your other hand, you and your family will not have to worry about financial problems.
Similar to English proverbs about Groundhog Day, there are many French proverbs and sayings about la Chandeleur; here are just a few:
- 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
About Virginie Woo

Virginie Woo started her first cooking school in the west side of Paris. After moving to New York she founded La Cooking Class where she shares her passion of cooking. Her goal is to show how to realize the most exquisite dishes and desserts in a simple and quick way. Virginie is the culinary expert at CRISTEL for which she writes many recipes.
Above: Crêpes at the Jean Talon Market in Montréal, photographed in 2010 by snowpea&bokchoi, via Flickr.
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Join us at the French Library for a conversation about Avant que j'oublie by Anne Pauly. We invite you to read the book in its entirety and meet us on May 23rd, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
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Join us for "La Cour de Récré”, a DROP-IN activity for parents and children (0 to 5) to enjoy a variety of activities, such as singing, playing and chatting.
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Poetry in Three Languages: A Haitian Night of Grace and Grit
Featuring women poets in French, Creole, and English.
Gather with us for a poetic evening featuring voices from Haiti and its diaspora. Through verse and conversation, we explore themes of strength, memory, and the rhythms of language across borders.
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