Comments on: Roscón de Reyes http://erikras.com/2008/01/06/roscon-de-reyes/ Thoughts and photos from an American living in Spain. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:32:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Josh http://erikras.com/2008/01/06/roscon-de-reyes/#comment-1719 Josh Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:47:12 +0000 http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/2008/01/06/roscon-de-reyes/#comment-1719 The "avoid death by choking" tradition comes from the Roman Saturnalia season raffle of "king for the day" via the placement of a bean in a pastry. The slave (or comparably low level) person who found the bean would (assuming he hadn't choked to death) get to be the master of the household for the day. As they say on Fark, hilarity ensued. Betsy, I think that "gateau du roi" is the phrase in Provence (maybe all of southern France?) Whereas "galette" is used in the north. Strangely enough, the "galet" is the special, snail shell shaped pasta used by the Catalans (northeastern Spain) in their traditional Christmas soup. The “avoid death by choking” tradition comes from the Roman Saturnalia season raffle of “king for the day” via the placement of a bean in a pastry. The slave (or comparably low level) person who found the bean would (assuming he hadn’t choked to death) get to be the master of the household for the day. As they say on Fark, hilarity ensued.

Betsy, I think that “gateau du roi” is the phrase in Provence (maybe all of southern France?) Whereas “galette” is used in the north. Strangely enough, the “galet” is the special, snail shell shaped pasta used by the Catalans (northeastern Spain) in their traditional Christmas soup.

]]> By: Erik R. http://erikras.com/2008/01/06/roscon-de-reyes/#comment-1718 Erik R. Mon, 07 Jan 2008 13:53:41 +0000 http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/2008/01/06/roscon-de-reyes/#comment-1718 So all Europeans are mad. Glad we got that settled. :-) So all Europeans are mad. Glad we got that settled. :-)

]]> By: sgazzetti http://erikras.com/2008/01/06/roscon-de-reyes/#comment-1717 sgazzetti Mon, 07 Jan 2008 13:46:18 +0000 http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/2008/01/06/roscon-de-reyes/#comment-1717 I'm pretty sure that there's a Brit tradition about finding the "lucky" sixpence hidden in the figgy pudding, too. I’m pretty sure that there’s a Brit tradition about finding the “lucky” sixpence hidden in the figgy pudding, too.

]]> By: Betsy http://erikras.com/2008/01/06/roscon-de-reyes/#comment-1716 Betsy Mon, 07 Jan 2008 12:20:33 +0000 http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/2008/01/06/roscon-de-reyes/#comment-1716 Yes, that was it, Simon. I knew "gateau" wasn't the right word but I couldn't come up with "galette". One less nagging half memory to deal with. Merci. Yes, that was it, Simon. I knew “gateau” wasn’t the right word but I couldn’t come up with “galette”. One less nagging half memory to deal with. Merci.

]]> By: simon http://erikras.com/2008/01/06/roscon-de-reyes/#comment-1715 simon Mon, 07 Jan 2008 11:26:13 +0000 http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/2008/01/06/roscon-de-reyes/#comment-1715 We have the "Galette du Roi" in Belgium, with the same hazardous figurine inside. We have the “Galette du Roi” in Belgium, with the same hazardous figurine inside.

]]> By: jane http://erikras.com/2008/01/06/roscon-de-reyes/#comment-1714 jane Sun, 06 Jan 2008 22:10:20 +0000 http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/2008/01/06/roscon-de-reyes/#comment-1714 "Luckily I didn't find it so I didn't have to act happy and honored for the day." Awesome. That is exactly what my reaction would have been. “Luckily I didn’t find it so I didn’t have to act happy and honored for the day.”

Awesome. That is exactly what my reaction would have been.

]]> By: Betsy http://erikras.com/2008/01/06/roscon-de-reyes/#comment-1713 Betsy Sun, 06 Jan 2008 16:48:53 +0000 http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/2008/01/06/roscon-de-reyes/#comment-1713 When I went to France in January 1971 I arrived on the 5th. The next day, still dopey from the trip and shocked at how little French I remembered, I was taken to a party where we had Gâteau de Roi or King cake. I was warned, I think, not to chomp down on the ring hidden in the pastry. Luckily I didn't find it so I didn't have to act happy and honored for the day. When I went to France in January 1971 I arrived on the 5th. The next day, still dopey from the trip and shocked at how little French I remembered, I was taken to a party where we had Gâteau de Roi or King cake. I was warned, I think, not to chomp down on the ring hidden in the pastry. Luckily I didn’t find it so I didn’t have to act happy and honored for the day.

]]> By: Heather http://erikras.com/2008/01/06/roscon-de-reyes/#comment-1712 Heather Sun, 06 Jan 2008 16:44:13 +0000 http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/2008/01/06/roscon-de-reyes/#comment-1712 That is some yummy yummy cake right there............ When we lived there, the kids always got more presents on El Dia Del Los Reyes than they did on Christmas.... That is some yummy yummy cake right there………… When we lived there, the kids always got more presents on El Dia Del Los Reyes than they did on Christmas….

]]> By: Erik R. http://erikras.com/2008/01/06/roscon-de-reyes/#comment-1711 Erik R. Sun, 06 Jan 2008 16:43:19 +0000 http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/2008/01/06/roscon-de-reyes/#comment-1711 Jane, yes, I suspect that the muffins I had with my French teacher as a kid were Mardi Gras related. I recall the choking hazard being humanoid. Jane, yes, I suspect that the muffins I had with my French teacher as a kid were Mardi Gras related. I recall the choking hazard being humanoid.

]]> By: jane http://erikras.com/2008/01/06/roscon-de-reyes/#comment-1710 jane Sun, 06 Jan 2008 15:08:59 +0000 http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/2008/01/06/roscon-de-reyes/#comment-1710 Interesting. Reminds me of the <a href="http://www.kingcake.com/" rel="nofollow">Mardi Gras King Cake</a>. Dig that little plastic baby Jesus! Interesting. Reminds me of the Mardi Gras King Cake. Dig that little plastic baby Jesus!

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