Do You Celebrate Candlemas?

Crepes free image by Pixabay
By Anna
@LadyDuck (472087)
Switzerland
February 2, 2019 7:52am CST
February 2nd is considered by many culture as the day where they can "predict" if winter will continue or stay. The United States and Canada celebrate the day as "Groundhog Day", many Christian countries around the world celebrate "Candlemas". Candlemas commemorates the day Jesus was presented to the temple. The origin of the name comes from the fact that Christians consider Jesus the “light of the world”, on this day candles are blessed and a candle-lit procession precedes the mass. On this day, in France, it is traditional to eat crêpes. The crêpes tradition is attributed to Pope Gelasius I, who had pancakes distributed to pilgrims arriving in Rome. This is believed to assure wealth and happiness until the next Candlemas celebration. It is also said that the pancakes, with their round shape and golden color reminiscent of the solar disc, refer to the return of Spring after the dark and cold of Winter. Who is going to make crêpes today?
102 people like this
106 responses
@allknowing (137781)
• India
2 Feb 19
We have what is called Pancake Tuesday. Wonder if this has any connection.
9 people like this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
2 Feb 19
It's different, what you mention is also called "Shrove Tuesday" is the day that precedes Ash Wednesday, we make fried desserts on that day.
6 people like this
@antonbunot (11093)
• Calgary, Alberta
22 Feb 19
Does it snow in India? Do you have winter season?
3 people like this
@akalinus (43374)
• United States
3 Feb 19
I never heard of pancake Tuesday. We have taco Tuesday. I have heard of Shrove Tuesday but did not know of its significance.
3 people like this
• United States
2 Feb 19
I don't put much faith in what the groundhog says but I'm hoping he's right about an early spring. I won't be making crepes today but it does sound like a nice tradition
6 people like this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
3 Feb 19
It rained here, so we must expect 40 more days of winter weather. Even without the Candlemas is always the same here.
2 people like this
@akalinus (43374)
• United States
3 Feb 19
The groundhog is mostly wrong. He says it will be an early spring here. I hope so. I have had enough of winter.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
4 Feb 19
@akalinus No matter what they say I know from past experience that until the end of March we can have some very cold days.
3 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90721)
• Philippines
3 Feb 19
I only get to eat a crepe when I go to a restaurant serving that. I love it filled with strawberries and with syrup on its top.
4 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90721)
• Philippines
4 Feb 19
@LadyDuck It must be so yummy. I haven't ever tasted an orange liquor sauce.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
4 Feb 19
@SIMPLYD The orange liquor sauce is very good, you do not feel the liquor because it evaporates, you only feel the taste.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
3 Feb 19
I prepared the crêpes with an orange and orange liquor sauce, the French way.
1 person likes this
@amadeo (111938)
• United States
2 Feb 19
this is a first that I heard of.Thank you for sharing this with us Love the crepes there.Been awhile for us
4 people like this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
2 Feb 19
I love crepes, I have just finished to make them.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
3 Feb 19
@TheHorse I often make stuffed crepes, my favorite stuffing is mushrooms and ham with bechamel sauce.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220263)
• Walnut Creek, California
3 Feb 19
@LadyDuck I like them too.
2 people like this
@nela13 (58720)
• Portugal
2 Feb 19
Do you know how can we predict if the winter will continue or not? I am desperately waiting for spring
5 people like this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
2 Feb 19
They usually say that if for Candlemas the day is sunny winter is over, but if it rains, or snows we still have 40 days of winter.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
3 Feb 19
@nela13 This should be the prediction according Candlemas. Here it rained.
1 person likes this
@nela13 (58720)
• Portugal
2 Feb 19
@LadyDuck we had a sunny but cold day, does it means that the winter is over?
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
2 Feb 19
Not have crepes today but they are so good. The groundhog seen his shadow here so six more weeks of winter for us.
6 people like this
@Juliaacv (51376)
• Canada
2 Feb 19
No shadow in our area, so they say early spring. But I feel that every time that he predicts an early spring, we get late winter/early spring snow storms. So, I'd rather your prediction.
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
2 Feb 19
It rains here, so 40 more days of winter.
2 people like this
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
2 Feb 19
@Juliaacv I guess we will just wait and see what happens
2 people like this
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
2 Feb 19
No, I don't! However, I do appreciate all that Jesus did in our behalf.
2 people like this
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
3 Feb 19
@LadyDuck I used to go to mass till I was in my later teens but I don't remember ever doing that. Maybe it is only done in certain places?
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
3 Feb 19
@1hopefulman In Italy they did everywhere in the Churches when I was young.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
3 Feb 19
I remember when I was a kid and we attended the Mass holding a lit candle. It was a nice tradition.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
2 Feb 19
In Denmark we don't celebrate Candlemas. I have only celebrated it once and that was the year I lived in Estonia. I wasn't familiar with that celebration at all. My coworkers told me that people bring the candles to the church to get them blessed. We didn't do that in Estonia, because the church was too far away, but we lighted a lot of candles outside the house.
2 people like this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
3 Feb 19
@LadyDuck The only celebration we have that involves candles is the Lucia procession in December. We all carried candles so we had to be careful. It could be dangerous to get too close to the girl in front of us.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
3 Feb 19
In the Orthodox countries they celebrate Candlemas. When I was a young girl in Italy we had a short procession inside the Church, bringing a lit candle. Sometimes there were small accidents.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
4 Feb 19
@Porcospino Santa Lucia is celebrated mainly in Sicily in Italy, they also organize a procession where girls wear candles on their head.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72533)
• Philippines
2 Feb 19
OH I wasn't aware of this. I would have eaten crepe today but it's too late now because it's my bed time. I will try to remember this for next year.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
2 Feb 19
I just finished to make my crepes, we will have them as dessert after dinner.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72533)
• Philippines
3 Feb 19
@LadyDuck Yum I'm sure they're very tasty. There's this crepe that I tried at a coffee shop where they add lemon to it. I love that crepe.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
3 Feb 19
@toniganzon I added an orange sauce, French style.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (30541)
• United Kingdom
2 Feb 19
Any excuse will induce us to eat pancakes!
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
2 Feb 19
I have just prepared the crêpes, we eat them as dessert.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
2 Feb 19
Happy Candlemas! I don't celebrate that holiday. February second is my nephew's birthday and Groundhog Day. My nephew is celebrating in New York City with his friends, and I have no need to celebrate Groundhog's Day anymore. It's constantly spring in Florida. After tennis today, we had omelets for breakfast at the club. My husband had a side of small pancakes if that counts for anything.
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
2 Feb 19
Happy Birthday to your nephew. I prepared crêpes for dessert. The snow is slowly melting, but we are staying home also tonight. Have a great day.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
2 Feb 19
@DianneN It's already 6:30 pm here, it's not very cold, but it's not safe to go out with all this snow, there are always idiots who think they can drive on the ice like on dry asphalt.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
2 Feb 19
@LadyDuck Thank you and enjoy your evening. We have plans to go out, but I'm tired from playing tennis and being out all morning. I may cancel. It's just 4 couples going out, and we won't be missed.
1 person likes this
@pjmurphy (2499)
• United States
2 Feb 19
I think I like the Candlemas celebration better than Groundhog Day. I've never 'celebrated' Groundhog Day.
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
2 Feb 19
Candlemas is a religious celebration, but an excuse to prepare crêpes (or pancakes). Mine are ready.
@YrNemo (20255)
21 Feb 19
Yum yum.... I cannot remember what I did on that date, working like mad I think, no pancakes to eat at all .
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
21 Feb 19
What a shame! I remember that it snowed the 2nd of February.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
22 Feb 19
@YrNemo I still have some crepes in the freezer, I could take them out for tonight dessert.
1 person likes this
@YrNemo (20255)
21 Feb 19
@LadyDuck I will make sure we have some pancakes next 2nd of February .
1 person likes this
@Sheali (7461)
• India
2 Feb 19
We don't celebrate this.. but it is always good to know different customs
4 people like this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
2 Feb 19
Most European countries celebrate Candlemas and many south American countries too.
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
3 Feb 19
@playertwo Pagans? This is a Catholic celebration.
@much2say (56053)
• Los Angeles, California
2 Feb 19
Ah, we do know Groundhog Day, but in my area we don't really "celebrate" it (kids often learn about it in school, but even there they do not do anything special for it). I do like the idea of traditional crepes - the shape and color makes sense about having crepes on this day. But I don't like the thought of eating groundhog .
2 people like this
@much2say (56053)
• Los Angeles, California
2 Feb 19
@LadyDuck Ah, so more winter it is. I have read that the groundhog says we are in it for an early spring - which would be typical normally, but I don't know because it's been it's been feeling like winter here with all this rain!
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
2 Feb 19
The shape and the color also symbolized the sun. The legend says that if the suns shines on the 2nd of February winter is over, if it snows or rains it lasts for 40 more days. Of course it rains today.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
3 Feb 19
@much2say Even if yesterday it would have been a sunny day, we know that here in Switzerland February is always the coldest month and March is often a rainy and cold month. We can hope to have a warmer temperature in April.
1 person likes this
• Preston, England
2 Feb 19
we usually have a Pancake Tuesday to mark the start of Lent, but Candlemas is largely ignored here
2 people like this
• Preston, England
3 Feb 19
@LadyDuck that sounds really nice
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
3 Feb 19
@arthurchappell The fried Carnival pastries are really very good, but not so healthy.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
3 Feb 19
The day of Pancake Tuesday we prepare fried sweets, it's the day that ends "Carnival" just before the Ash Wednesday.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (51376)
• Canada
2 Feb 19
That is SO interesting. And just as crazy as this sounds, I made up a few crepes yesterday, rolled them, and put them into the fridge. I actually ate a tiny one (I like them dry) for my morning coffee break at work today. So, I was totally in keeping with the tradition elsewhere in the world wasn't I?
2 people like this
@Juliaacv (51376)
• Canada
3 Feb 19
@LadyDuck I do love a delicious thin crepe. Usually I roll up fresh fruit in them but yesterday I just had it warmed up and dry. It was delicious.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
3 Feb 19
@Juliaacv I also like crepes with fresh fruits, particularly strawberries.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
3 Feb 19
What a coincidence! I made crêpes yesterday and I served them with the classic orange/orange liquor hot sauce.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (108166)
• Marion, Ohio
2 Feb 19
We wont. I dont even know what our groundhog said about winter
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
2 Feb 19
@wolfgirl569 I thought it was one marmot for all the USA.
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
2 Feb 19
It seems it said that you have six more weeks.
@wolfgirl569 (108166)
• Marion, Ohio
2 Feb 19
@LadyDuck Each state here has their own and I dont know what ours said
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220263)
• Walnut Creek, California
3 Feb 19
Nope. I had toast. No pancakes. I hadn't heard of this day!
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
3 Feb 19
I do not like pancakes but I love crêpes because they are thin, and I serve them "flambed" with an orange sauce.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
3 Feb 19
@TheHorse It's correct they are called crêpes Suzette, it is correctly spelled. I use Grand Marnier to flame the crêpes.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220263)
• Walnut Creek, California
3 Feb 19
@LadyDuck We used to call that crêpes Suzette, or something like that. It's been so long, I have no idea how to spell it.
1 person likes this
@dya80dya (36774)
3 Feb 19
I don't celebrate Candlemas.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
3 Feb 19
I do not celebrate anymore, but I made crepes because we like them.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
9 Feb 19
@dya80dya They are not exactly the same, pancakes are thick and crepes are thin. I like crepes a lot more.
1 person likes this
@dya80dya (36774)
8 Feb 19
@LadyDuck I think crepes are pancakes. I love them.
1 person likes this