CELEBRATING "LA GALETTE DE ROIS"

The feast of the Epiphany is celebrated in France with a pastry. Does this surprise you? Not me!Our whole family is enjoying all the French traditions celebrated with food. This past week our family had several opportunities to enjoy the Galette des Rois (literally the Kings' cake). A lucky charm or "une feve" is hidden inside the pastry. The youngest person sits under the table and tells the host which person should be served next. Waiting in anticipation of who finds une feve is the exciting part. You never know who it will be or what the charm will be. Upon finding the charm (and hopefully before you swallow it) you are either crowned king or queen.

On Thursday at the English speaking group, Ghislaine served the gallette so I could experience this fun French tradition. To my surprise I found the lucky charm or heart ring inside my slice and was crowned queen; probably the only time I will experience being a queen.

Marie, our very kind neighbor across the street invited us to dinner on Friday to celebrate the Gallette de Rois with her and her mother. The brioche is another type of pastry that is served with this tradition.

Meghan also enjoyed being queen for a night!

Sunday afternoon was spent with our friends who also wanted to share this tradition with us. Meghan and the other girls decided they did not want to go under the table so they left the room and yelled each name out so Ysa, the hostess would know who to serve next. All twelve of us gathered waiting for the fun to begin! The kids went off to play games after our dessert while the adults sat and talked for several hours about the differences between France and the United States, enjoying learning from each other as Anne-Elisabeth played interpreter once again. The media plays a big part in the misconceptions each country has of each other. Dave and I learned that French children do not start out drinking at an early age as we have been told. In the business world, the French are being told they need to be more American and change jobs and move every few years to get ahead. We shared with them that not all Americans are moving to get ahead. Dave was a good example,being employed with Hill-Rom for 26 years and living in the same house for 18 years.

The custom is if you are the queen, you pick your king and vice verse. Since I am Dave's queen every day, I was not hurt when the hostess was chosen as his queen.

MATHEW 25:21 "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things: I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness."