The New Year is fast approaching and with it the Epiphany, which commemorates my birthday. Well, not exactly…
To be accurate, the Epiphany (January 6) celebrates the Three Wise Men’s (Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar) visit to Bethlehem to pay homage and offer gifts to a newly born infant named Jesus. This event is a big deal among believers… and non-believers alike.
But my birthday is still January 6 and it is worth commemorating… I think… I am not so sure anymore. It’s weird being the same age as old people. Pre-pandemic days, I used to have a few friends over to share the traditional Galette des Rois.
To be accurate, they shared it with me. We are lucky to have in our midst a few good “artisans” and two of them Jacques Gautier (born January 4) and Jean-Claude Bunand (January 6) happened to be “Boulanger-pâtissiers”. Each year they graciously provided some Galette des Rois to be shared with all my guests.
Each visitor got a share of the galette (save one for the poor) and the person who found the bean was King (or Queen) for a day. 
“The bean is one of the symbols of the winter solstice. It is the first vegetable that grows in spring. Above all, this vegetable, like the egg, contains an embryo. As it ‘ages’ it gives life. The bean is very important, especially among the Greeks – they contained the souls of the dead according to the Pythagoreans – and the Romans. The latter threw beans in the back on May 9, 11, and 13 to chase away the shadows of the dead. “
“Under Louis XIII, the ladies of the court use to draw lots. The winner became the queen for a day and could request a vow to the king. This was quickly abolished by his successor Louis XIV. »
Under the French Revolution though, the cake was not called Galette des Rois but Galette de la Liberté; there was no bean, and no king (god forbids) was appointed, even for a day.
But it seems that kings are now back in favor and so is la Galette which by the way never lost its popularity. In 2021 alas, this celebration won’t be possible. It would be too irresponsible.
It is naturally very tempting to get together with friends and have fun, but unlike some reckless philistines, I refuse to even consider it. With the pandemic wreaking havoc all over the world, it would be such a disservice to humanity, that it is unthinkable.
But I might consider a covid-eo reunion. I will keep you apprised of the situation.
Alain
PS: Can a treacherous former “head of state” be burned at the stake? Just wondering…