Catholic tradition states that their journey to Bethlehem took twelve days (the Twelve Days of Christmas), and that they arrived to honor the Christ Child on Epiphany. The season for king cake extends from the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas (Twelfth Night and Epiphany Day), through to Mardi Gras day. Some organizations or groups of friends may have "king cake parties" every week through the Carnival season.
So in France at the moment in every shop you can buy a Galette de Rois or King Cake. Here it is a Pithivier (ha for all my hotel school friends I actually remembered that useless piece of information) which is a circle of puff pastry filled with almond paste or Frangipane as it is called here and a little prize, usually a coin or a miniture ceramic Jesus , king etc. When you cut the cake you have to then cover it with a cloth and each person around the table shouts out a name of another person at the table who receives that piece. Then whoever gets the prize wears the crown for the evening.
The Galette de Rois
Grandpa won the prize
but shared the crown.
We are invited to friends on Wednesday to share another Galette de Rois and I don't mind because it is quiet delicious.
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