La Fête Des Rois, au revoir Papa Noël

credit: www.cuistoshop.com

Today is January 6, Epiphany or, in French, La Fête Des Rois. Growing up, this date was always the outer limit of the Christmas holidays.  

For me, today is the day Christmas is officially over, no earlier. Which is why it always makes me sad -- seems indecent, really -- when I see trees kicked to the curb any sooner than now. 

Today is the day I lovingly say good-bye to petit Papa Noël, au revoir, à l’année prochaine.

When my sisters and I were kids, last night we would have left our shoes out for Papa Noël to fill with walnuts and oranges and perhaps some other little treat.  

And tonight, as the final event in the season, we would feast on Galette des Rois, hoping to find the fève and thereby earn the right to lord it about in the coveted paper crown.  Such a little thing, that lording it about, but oh, how we wanted it, to be queen for just a few hours.

Today I always miss my sisters, I miss our family when we were little, sitting at the black table in the kitchen, waiting to see which of us would find the little treasure in our slice of cake, who would be crowned. Today I miss my sisters more than usual.

But instead I shift my thoughts to Santa, to Papa Noël, and feel grateful for this happy little tradition.  I think I know where to find a Galette today, so it's on my list.  Maybe this year --  chances are very good --- the crown will be mine. 

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