La Galette des Rois

Although Santa Claus visits most children on December 25th these days, religious tradition dictates celebration with a big meal on or around Twelfth Night. The traditional dessert is une Galette des Rois, a frangipane tart made with puff pastry. A charm is usually baked in: la fève could be almost anything and symbolises maybe fertility, maybe good luck, even the obligation to buy the first round of drinks.

I bought a nine-inch-diameter galette in a local bakery for 8 euros. It came with a gold cardboard crown. Looked identical to the one in Carrefour for 6 euros, but they say that if you pay more, you get a better charm: mine was a ceramic Scoubidou Glacier. Who knew that the old dog sold ice cream from a cart?

By the way, Santa Claus can frequently be seen climbing up the outside of a house at Christmas in this area. Chimneys aren't as common as they used to be, as they are the principal sources of heat loss from houses. Thank you, Science.