Amateurs of the art think that Christmas begins and more or less ends on Christmas Day, and they are wrong. Not even just a little bit wrong, but entirely so. This is because while Christmas does indeed begin on Christmas Day (anything before that is not actually Christmas, but Advent), it then carries on for another 11 days until the 6th of January, when we have Epiphany.
This was the day on which Jesus Christ was visited by the Three Wise Men, also called the Magi, and also called the Three Kings, hence Epiphany is sometimes also known as Three Kings Day.
This period has long been marked as a period of feasting and celebration, and the Galette des Rois (Galette of the Kings) has been a part of that celebration since at least medieval times. However, like many Christian traditions, its roots can be traced even further back to pagan times and in this case the customs associated with the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia, a period of revelry when slaves were allowed once-off privileges such as dining with and betting against their masters and when dice were thrown to choose a ‘King’, whose every command had to be obeyed.
In contemporary France, the tradition takes different forms in different parts of the country. In the north, and especially around Paris, the Galette des Rois is modelled on the Pithiviers, which originated in the town to the south of the capital city. The Galette des Rois is the best known and composed of layers of puff pastry that sandwich an almond paste to create a flaky, lightly sweet treat.
But other parts of France use different kinds of cakes to mark their 12th Night of Christmas. For example, in Bordeaux, you’ll find the Gateau Tourtillon. In South-eastern France, people flavour their 12th Night cake, a Couve, with lemon and vanilla, and mark it with the shape of a broody hen. Other parts of southern France might celebrate with a ring of leavened brioche-like pastry whose flavour will vary from one region to another.
One thing they will share in common though is the tradition of baking a little bean, or porcelain icon, into the cake so that whoever finds it in their slice is anointed King for the day, the one whose commands we must all obey…
But here, at Khéma, we choose the redoubtable Galette des Rois to celebrate our 12th Night of Christmas. You’ll find yours at all Khéma outlets now at $18 net for a cake that will serve four to six people, or $28 for a larger cake that will serve 10 to 12. And remember, if you take a second slice, the more likely you are to be King!
