In France, everyone knows the tradition of the galette des rois at the time of the religious festival of Epiphany. Whether it is frangipane, apple, chocolate or even unflavored (this is the case for “dry pancakes” in Berry), it is very popular with bean collectors. But when it comes to giving the date of Epiphany, many lose their Latin. However, this year, the festival is celebrated this Sunday, January 5.
If, originally, Epiphany was celebrated on January 6, this has not been the case in France for a long time. Indeed, in France, it is not a public holiday. However, as the Catholic Church reminds us, “where this day is not a holiday, the celebration of this feast is fixed for the Sunday closest to January 6, so that the greatest number of the faithful can commemorate it.”
A public holiday in Italy and Spain
This rule seems clear. But with globalization and the proliferation of social networks, Internet users sometimes mix up the calendars of different countries. Indeed, in many European countries, Epiphany is a public holiday, which is always fixed on January 6: Spain, Austria, Italy, Croatia, Poland, Greece, Germany (in the Länder of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and Saxony -Anhalt) and three Swiss cantons (Schwyz, Ticino and Uri).
In France, Epiphany has been celebrated on a Sunday for 223 years, and not on the fixed date of January 6. It was in 1802 that Cardinal Jean-Baptiste Caprara, papal legate, issued a decree to this effect.
The word “Epiphany” dates back to the 12th century. It comes from the Greek “epiphania”, which means “things that appear”. This Christian religious festival celebrates the manifestation of Jesus Christ to the wise men who came to worship him.
