For anyone not familiar with crepe, they are thin pancakes that are made with flour, milk, eggs, and butter and usually cooked in a pan. These slim pancakes are thought to have been created in Brittany, France and they are a familiar sight in French households. They are also the subject of Day of the Crepe—a holiday that’s observed annually on the 2nd of February.

This is a day that’s associated with Candlemas in France—a Catholic holiday that commemorates the purification of the Virgin Mary and the presentation of Jesus Christ. In France, this holiday is known by several names including Jour des crepes, la Chandeleur, and Fête de la Lumière.

The History Of Crepes

Every wonder where crepes came from? If you have, then don’t worry because we know the history of these thin pancakes and would like to now share that information with everyone reading about Day Of The Crepe. Crepes date back to the 13th century in Brittany, France. It’s there that a housewife seems to have made an interesting discovery while cooking porridge.

This 13th-century housewife accidentally dripped thin porridge onto a hot, flat cooktop. Since she wasn’t about to waste perfectly good food, she decided to serve it to friends and family members in the community. Not long after, the art of making crepes caught on, and the rest is history. Nowadays they are served in a variety of different ways. They can be made sweet or savory, can be filled with a variety of ingredients, or simply served with some fruit on top. They’re delicious and definitely worth celebrating on this holiday.

Observing Day Of The Crepe

One of the ways of celebrating this holiday is by making crepes—not only for yourself but also for friends and family members. Of course, Catholics are also going to want to celebrate this day by attending special Candlemas services, and bringing their candles to church so that they can be blessed before they’re used for the rest of the year.