Pupils at St Ives School in Haslemere celebrated Epiphany in Gallic fashion this week by learning about the Fête des Rois and the ancient French tradition of celebrating the end of the festive season with a special cake, the Galette des Rois (King’s cake).
The children had learnt all about the King’s cake in their French lessons and were really excited about tasting one at lunchtime. According to tradition, each cake has a charm or ‘féve’ hidden inside it and the youngest person around each table has to hide underneath it and call out to the person cutting the cake who should receive which piece. Some of our younger pupils were so surprised to find themselves hiding under the table screaming out their friends’ names at the tops of their voices (all in French, of course!). The children who found the charms in their slices were thrilled to find them and were delighted to be named king or queen for the day, donning their special crowns! They even became special helpers in their afternoon lessons.