La+Chandeleur

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La Chandeleur started originally as a pagan feast where candles had to be lit at midnight as a symbol of purification. The Catholic Church adapted the traditions of the pagan feast, and began to bless the candles. =====

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Churchgoers would then take the candles home to repel evil, and to remind them that Christ is the light of the world. The holiday also took place at the beginning of the winter seed-time. As such, surplus flour could be used without too much risk of a shortage. As a symbol of prosperity, crêpes were made with the extra flour. =====

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 This holiday became known as Candlemas, or La Chandeleur. These days however, La Chandeleur has come to mean Crêpe Day in France. That’s right, February 2nd is now an entire day dedicated to crêpes – making them, eating them, and a host of strange traditions involving them. =====

 http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSQJ7gIBRmRXJ7gF7gqC2AD-HArJpvJFVLPVM5Aaf6Heqeu6R3uoZMErsYsMg Art depicting Candlemas being celebrated a long time ago

 http://www.northernway.org/school/way/calendar/CandlesLitInaRow.jpg Some candles (People often made their own special candles)

  A family dining by candlelight http://mountainoakschool.org/~mountain/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=125&Itemid=80 === **Some modern ways people celebrate ** === ===** Some older traditions and myths of Candlemas **===
 * Some families like celebrate this holiday by eating a meal in candlelight.
 *  During the school day children sing songs and make beeswax candles.
 * Many families make special candles together
 * religious people may decide to have their candles specially blessed.

<span style="color: #0d9c8b; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> An old British rhythm says "If Candlemas day be bright and clear, there'll be two winters in the year. This was the beginning of holiday weather and season myths, like our groundhog's day.

<span style="color: #0d9c8b; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Another tradition is to turn every light in the house for a short time in honor of the sun's rebirth.

<span style="color: #0d9c8b; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Candlemas was originally a Pagan holiday called Imbolic. Imbolic literally means "in the belly" (of the mother). The Pagans called it such because they were celebrating the new life and the plants growing from mother earth after a cold, and dark winter.
 * =====<span style="color: #0d9c8b; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">What people do on La Chandeleur =====
 * =====<span style="color: #0d9c8b; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">While cooking the //crêpes//, hold a coin in one hand, with the other, flip the crêpe – and catch it while making your wish for the New Year. If you catch it your wish will be answered. =====
 * =====<span style="color: #0d9c8b; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Another fun, yet strange tradition is to throw the first crêpe on an armoire – if it sticks, it has to be kept there all year, granting a good harvest. =====
 * =====<span style="color: #0d9c8b; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Of course, on a holiday commonly known for crêpes, people will of course EAT CRÊPES! =====
 * =====<span style="color: #0d9c8b; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">Of course, on a holiday commonly known for crêpes, people will of course EAT CRÊPES! =====

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**Vocabulary Words**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">En Français || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">En Anglais ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Un poêle || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Fying pan ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Proséprité || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Prosperity ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Cierge || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">(Church) Candle ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Farine || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Flour ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Purifier || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Purify ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Bénir || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Bless ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Récolte || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Harvest ||
 * La Chandeleur || Candlemass ||
 * Sauter || To Flip (as in pancakes) ||
 * Une pièce || coin ||

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">Sources - <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;">[] http://www.breviary.net/images/candlemas1.jpg <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">[]

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