The King’s Day — Bridging Faith and Secularized Holidays.
There is a day in France that every Frenchman, woman and child knows as the King’s Day.
30 million flaky buttery delicious King’s galette pastries will be eaten as it has become the traditional way to celebrate the dawning of a new year with family, friends, and colleagues. And since it is bad luck and poor etiquette to not wish someone a happy new year, you will be summoned to do this with every sports team and social group you belong to and the custom spans the month of January during which time you may be invited to partake in a dozen King’s galette celebrations.
But there’s so much more to the story that isn’t told.
The holiday has lost all connection to it’s origin. Only 15% of French people even know what they are celebrating. Public schools adamantly proclaim separation of church and state and serve King’s galette in the cafeteria.
It is likely that you’ve heard of the 12 Days of Christmas. The last day of the 12 feasts is Epiphany where Christians celebrate the tardy visit of the three Magi whose chapter in the Nativity story involves a long journey to worship Jesus and bestow gifts.
So you can call this holiday The 12 Days of Christmas, or Epiphany, or the King’s Day as you like, but no one gets away without celebrating it. Don’t let secular people get away with telling you they’re celebrating Saturnales, the Roman god Saturn, or winter solstice because that was December 21st and this is a January holiday.
Here’s my other article where you will find a traditional recipe, instructions on how to play the game, as well as ideas and guidelines for hiding a prize in your King’s galette safely.
King’s Day in numbers:
96% of French people love the King’s galette.
85% of French people say they celebrate Epiphany.
Only 15% of French people know what the holiday is celebrating.
Source: https://www.planetoscope.com/Autre/1954-consommation-francaise-de-galettes.html#:~:text=Entre%20le%2026%20d%C3%A9cembre%20et,se%20f%C3%AAte%20le%206%20janvier.
Source: https://www.espacedatapresse.com/fil_datapresse/consultation_cp.jsp?idcp=2870392