La Fête de Chandeleur

Grenoble from a friend's apartment

Salut et bon dimanche tout le monde! Yesterday was the Fête de Chandeleur (Candlemas), which is a combination Catholic/pagan sort of holiday that celebrates the Feast of the Presentation as well as the light. But, it's basically national crêpe day. My favorite part, other than the eating of the crêpes of course, was making them. And according to the French, when making them for Chandeleur, you hold a gold coin in your writing hand and flip the crêpe in the air using the other. If you catch it (not folded) you'll have good luck for the rest of the year. My host mom also told me that the holiday normally falls on a full moon and that's what the round crêpes are supposed to mean. But I've heard also heard versions of this with the sun, so I don't know which is true.

Crêpes!

Anyway, on Friday a lot of us went over to our professor's house to make crêpes. We spent the whole afternoon there making about 60/70. And yesterday we came together again to celebrate with cider and sweet and savory crêpes. I probably ate four. Maybe more. They're just so good. We had a great time too, sitting around his kitchen table, joking and laughing for hours.

Ireland v. Wales

After we drank lots of coffee and cleaned all the dishes, I went with three friends to an Irish pub to watch a rugby match. The combination of Irish, English and French patrons made for an entertaining time. We watched almost two games before calling it quits and walking home in the rain.