CANDLEMAS – LA CANDELARIA LA CHANDELEUR; 2nd FEBRUARY

 CANDLEMAS – LA CANDELARIA

LA CHANDELEUR
2nd FEBRUARY



Candlemas is celebrated throughout the Catholic world in a wide variety of local customs:
SPAIN: In Málaga, there is a procession with a re-enactment of the presentation of Jesus at the Temple.
In Menasalbas, Toledo, there is a parade in which 11 riders and their 22 serfs carry torches through the town.
In Almonacid del Marquesado, Cuenca, is the scene of a ‘devil’ parade, with hundreds of gaily clad devils cavorting around the streets.
In A Pobra de Trives, Ourense, chorizo sausages are cooked on huge bonfires.
MEXICO: The Mexican custom is that the person who finds the feve (or the figurine representing baby Jesus), in the Epiphany cake (the Rosca de Reyes), feeds the same group of people on Candlemas Day (Dia de la Candelaria).
As 2nd February marks the end of the Christmas period, all decorations are taken down and the nativity set is put away. The Mexican custom is, however, that the baby Jesus from the Nativity set, or alternatively, a doll, is dressed up and taken to the church by local people in remembrance of the Presentation of the Lord Jesus in the Temple.
Traditionally, the Mexicans make a massive feast with Tamales (using lard, which is also part of the Carnival requisite unloading of fatty foods, prior to the fasting of Lent).



FRANCE: La Chalendeur – the traditional food for that day is the Crepe, as to which the recipe follows:



CREPES
This is a recipe that will be useful in 2 weeks’ time –Shrove Tuesday;
[It comes from Stephanie Alexander's cooking bible, “The Cooks Companion”] *
It will make 15 thin lacy pancakes or crepes. They can be stacked and wrapped in plastic film if wanted for use later. The batter will keep overnight in a covered container-Stephanie Alexander advises to “stir any risen batter back into the batter and bring the batter to room temperature before using.”
INGREDIENTS
250g plain flour
60g butter
pinch salt
1 ½ cups milk
3 eggs
METHOD
“Put flour into a basin and make a well. Warm butter salt and milk until butter has melted. Break eggs into well and work in some flour. Add warm milk mixture and whisk until quite smooth. Refrigerate for 2 hours before cooking. The consistency should be like thin cream. If not, thin with more milk.
Heat a frying pan, (preferably one designed for cooking pancakes). Wipe pan with a piece of buttered paper for the first pancake. Lift pan from heat, then ladle in batter and swirl to spread it to the edges of pan. Set pan back over the heat. After 1 minute, lift thin outer edge of pancake with a fine spatula and flip pancake using your fingers or a spatula. Repeat the process. You will get better- and so will the pancakes!”
Serve with jam and cream, or lemon and sugar, or butter and honey, or nutella …..
*Viking, 1996, at pp. 25-26.
The Bad Catholics Guide reminds us to take all our Christmas decorations down at this time. They say for us to then "attend your parish's lavish celebration of this feast, which is sure to include a solemn procession, the formal blessing of candles and polyphonic choral renditions of traditional chants such as 'Adorna thalamum tuum Sion'." This author would advise that "On Eagles' Wings" does not give quite the same feel....
Image: Marie Guillaumet; Aleteia.org

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