For the first time on Feb. 6, the French instructors hosted a crepe-making event in the CEI to celebrate the French holiday La Chandeleur, or Candlemas in English. Students learned about Candlemas and then got the chance to make a crepe of their own with a variety of toppings, including the traditional choice, sugar, or an assortment of fruits and spreads. The event was spearheaded by World Languages Instructor Laura Jensen and stemmed from her fondness for French culture and, of course, crepes.
“I planned this because I love crepes,” Jensen said, “And because I’m always looking for fun things that we can do as a community to sort of celebrate our world languages in different ways and share different cultures from around the world with students.”
Historically, Candlemas is a Christian holiday celebrated 40 days after Christmas, falling this year on Feb. 2. It commemorates the journey of the Virgin Mary to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem to be purified after the birth of her son Jesus and present him to God. Candlemas simultaneously represents the celebration of the midway point of winter. While it can be celebrated religiously, Candlemas is enjoyed by most in present-day France secularly. The holiday has evolved into a day dedicated to crepes, with the round shape representing the sun or the circle of life, and the eating and sharing with others commemorates the historical tradition of popes giving out food to the poor on this day each year. Students loved enriching their education of Candlemas in this unique, tasty way.
“Tapping into the cultural origins of France was really exciting,” Freya ‘27 said. “I also loved eating them.”
Candlemas is a widely recognized holiday in France because it’s morphed from its original religious meaning and turned into a day universally beloved by both the general population and lovers of France. Some even celebrate by eating crepes for all three meals of the day. While Marlborough’s approach was less extreme, students enjoyed celebrating by attempting to master the art of crepe-making and eating their creations. Many agree it should become a tradition.
“I think that crepe workshop should definitely continue next year,” Annabelle ‘26 said.
Implementing this event every year was another goal of Jensen’s when crafting this celebration. She believes that it blends fun and education for students that attend.
“Marlborough has such strong academics and such strong traditions,” Jensen said. “We can bring those two together and have fun and create new traditions that are inspired by the things you do in class.”
