Candlemas Crepes

History

As we mentioned in our previous post, Candlemas’s significance and name derive from Simeon’s recognition that Christ was the “light to lighten the Gentiles,” a symbolic allusion to Jesus’ divinity made flesh.

Thus, the Candlemas tradition blessing new candles for use in the church and the homes of Christians was also supposed to symbolize Jesus’ relationship to the world, representing not only the light that he brings to this world’s darkness but also the purity and new life that he brings to all people.

Usually this tradition would be part of the evening mass for the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus and Purification of Mary. Parishes would ensure that all the candles in the church were lit and that new candles would be available to be blessed for their use throughout the remainder of the year both in the church building and in the homes of parishioners who would take one of them for use in their own households.

This candle was supposed to have a special place on the home altar, being lit during the household’s daily prayers and also in times of danger–during thunderstorms, sickness, and moments of tribulation. Parishioners were supposed to bring this candle home and then also light all of the other candles in their house while putting away their Christmas decorations until the next year, keeping the candle out as a reminder of Christ’s coming to them during Christmastide.

The meaning of the candles runs deep within Christianity, representing not only Jesus’ light but also his name Emmanuel, “God with us.” Likewise, they refer back to the candles presented to all Christians at the time of their baptism. By lighting this Candlemas candle on various occasions and having other candles ever-present in the home, Christians were supposed to remember the words spoken over them at their baptism and God’s eternal presence with them even after Christmas and Epiphany had ended.

Candlemas Crepes

While we hope that you will have the chance to partake in a historic candle-blessing mass at your church or choose February 2nd as a day to bring new candles into your home for use throughout the rest of the year, we thought that we would share one other tradition that has customarily also accompanied Candlemas–crepes!

The consumption of Candlemas crepes in connection to the feast goes back to at least the fifth century. These tasty treats were connected with the feast day due to their round shape and golden color, both of which were reminiscent of the sun and alluded to Jesus, the light of the world.

Just like our Annunciation Waffles recipe, there are a million ways to serve crepes, but we think that some berries or jam filling and whipped cream would complete this marvelous Candlemas dish!

Ingredients

1 cup milk

4 eggs

½ cup lukewarm water

4 tablespoons butter, melted

⅛ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup flour

3 tablespoons powdered sugar

Instructions

1. Mix the milk, eggs, water, sugar, butter, vanilla, and salt in a blender. Add the flour and blend again.
2. Heat a frying pan over medium-high heat and spray it with oil, making a non-stick surface.
3. Pour just enough mixture in the pan to cover it, swirling the pan to ensure the mixture spreads evenly. You want it to be coated with a thin surface but not so paper-thin that it will tear when you flip.
4. Wait about 1 minute, 30 seconds to flip the crepe, making sure that the top is set. Then wait until the other side is done before taking it out of the pan. We suggest that you use both your spatula and quick fingers to make sure that you turn it all the way over!
5. Cool the crepes on wax paper.

References:
1. Newland, Mary Reed. The Year and Our Children: Planning the Family Activities for the Church Year. Image Books. 1964.
2. von Trapp, Maria. Around the Year with the von Trapp Family. Sophia Institute Press. 2018.
3. Parsch, Pius. The Church’s Year of Grace: Advent to Candlemas. The Liturgical Press. 1963.