Happy New Year!! 

‘La Galette des Rois’ - a tasty tradition

A seasonal reminder that France celebrates Epiphany each year on the second Sunday after Christmas with the galette des rois – a traditional puff pastry cake filled with frangipane, a thick almond cream.  This tradition traces its roots back to the Middle Ages when the last piece of the cake, often called the ‘piece for the poor’, was reserved and given to the first needy person knocking at the door.  Inside is a little surprise – these days a 'santon' (figurine) - and the person who gets the slice with the santon is declared the king and so crowned. 

Information.

...... from ‘Le Courrier’ 1/12/11: Around 40 complaints were received in 2011 in the Mayenne département alone from people who have received fines for traffic offences (speeding, illegal parking, etc) when their car was not involved – often not even in the area. There are dozens and dozens of internet sites that enable number plates to be purchased very cheaply and without the ‘carte gris’, and these can be illegally used: any car ‘flashed’ or otherwise given a ticket will result in the true owner receiving the fine.  Another method is to use black tape to change C into O, or I to L, etc., with the same result.  One local owner of a tractor (top speed 30 km/h) received a speeding fine for driving in Belgium - where he had never been! - at 92 km/h!  The gendarmes have also been requested to take a closer look at a car’s details before issuing parking fines.  However, if you receive a fine for being ‘flashed’ but you were not there, you can ask for a copy (un cliché) which can show it was not your car; otherwise you may need to prove that you were not in that area on that day.  However, criminals caught committing this crime (‘Usurpation de plaques d’immatriculation’) can get 7 years in prison, a 30,000€ fine, 3-year licence stop and confiscation of the vehicle.

Lest we forget – Memories of the Résistance

In November 2011 a new stèle (monument) was inaugurated in the military cemetery in Ernée to the memory of the brave people who selflessly risked their lives to save others. ‘Le Courrier’ has been printing some histories - I will pass some on to you over the next few months: 

Suzanne Fauque was born in 1934, the second child of Auguste and Marie-Louise, and she remembers growing up with a great secret - forbidden to speak about it, not even at school, for fear of them all being shot.  Surviving the débâcle of 1940 her father had cycled home from Picardy to Ernée, and in 1943 he was asked by members of the Résistance in Ernée to hide 9 members of the Jewish Fresco family.  Using their farm produce they were able to feed everyone, including some escaped prisoners, and had to wait until 6th August 1944 when ‘les clandestins’ were completely free from the danger of capture.  Suzanne, now aged 77, still lives in Ernée and keeps in touch with members the family that she helped to keep safe.