On February 2, students in Elementary French II and Intermediate French II gathered for a hands-on celebration of La Chandeleur, a French tradition centered on cooking and sharing crêpes. Led by Dr. Julie Crohas, Assistant Professor and Director of the French and Francophone Studies Program, the class turned a regular class period into an immersive cultural experience that brought language, culture, and tradition together.
Often called “Crêpe Day” in France, La Chandeleur has both cultural and religious roots. The holiday is also known as Candlemas, a Christian feast celebrating the presentation of Jesus at the temple 40 days after Christmas, a tradition the Church later blended with earlier pagan celebrations marking the return of light after winter. Crêpes, cooked golden and round, symbolize the sun and the promise of longer days ahead.
Students did more than learn about the traditions. They practiced them. Everyone took a turn flipping a crêpe while holding a coin in their left hand, a superstition said to bring good fortune for the coming year. Another tradition involves flipping a crêpe six times in a row to predict a wedding within the year, a challenge successfully completed by senior Ella Kuenzli, who is, in fact, getting married this coming summer.
“The experience was a total blast! Being able to learn about the French holiday and the different traditions in France was a lot of fun. We discussed the holiday's Christian tradition as well as its Roman and non-religious traditions. It's really amazing to be able to see the benefit of your practice and studies, such as what we were able to do with the French class. We learned about the tradition, and then we were able to live it during class. Plus, the crepes were delicious, so I was able to have a yummy snack at the end!” shared Ella.
Experiences like this highlight the value of French and Francophone Studies at Carroll, where language is taught as a living, global skill. The program’s new Certificate in French for the Workplace builds on this approach, preparing students to use professional French across international and U.S. contexts. From resumes and meetings to workplace etiquette and cultural fluency across the Francophone world, students gain practical tools that open doors in a global job market.
At Carroll, sometimes learning French starts with a crêpe, and leads to a career.