January in France isn’t just about cold weather, coats, and short days.
It’s also about galette des rois.
Officially, it’s eaten on January 6th, for Epiphany.
But in reality, from the very beginning of January, galettes fill bakery windows… and French people eat them all month long.
Frangipane or brioche crown, the galette isn’t just a cake.
It’s a real social ritual.
The perfect excuse to get together
In France, you don’t always need a special occasion to meet up.
That’s exactly what the galette is for: something simple.
You invite your neighbour over for a slice.
They show up with a bottle of cider.
You sit down, chat, laugh, and share an easy, relaxed moment.
Sometimes, it’s even more French than that:
you invite someone to eat galette…
and they arrive with a galette of their own 😄
Because what matters isn’t the cake.
It’s the time spent together.
At work, a never-ending tradition
At the office, the tradition goes even further.
One colleague brings a galette.
You share it.
Whoever finds the fève has to bring the next one.
The result?
Galettes again and again, until the end of January (and sometimes until complete overload 😂).
And lots of conversations around the table or during coffee breaks.
Childhood memories everyone shares
Galette des rois is also full of emotion.
Almost every French person remembers this:
as a child, sitting under the table, randomly assigning slices.
“Who gets this one?”
You hoped so badly to find the fève.
You kept them, year after year.
In many French kitchens, there’s still a small box filled with fèves : memories shared with children, parents, and grandparents.
Speaking French is also about this
You see, galette des rois is simple.
No need for perfect sentences.
No need for an amazing level of French.
It’s just a way of saying:
“Come over, let’s chat over a coffee.”
And that’s exactly the spirit of Women Speak French.
So if you’d like to practise and improve your French in a warm, friendly, stress-free space…
☕ I’ll be waiting for you at Women Speak French.
Come share a tea or coffee with me no strings attached!
A bientôt !
Faustine
