Discovering the Feast of the Kings

Between pagan roots, family customs and lucky beans, the Epiphany cake is full of stories. Explore this thousand-year-old tradition to understand its origin and scope for a gourmet way to extend the holiday spirit.

Pagan Origins

The Epiphany cake has its origins in Saturnalia, the Roman festivities that took place around the winter solstice. This period suspended the usual rules and instituted a reversal of the social order: masters and slaves exchanged roles and the city vibrated to the rhythm of feasts, games and public performances.

To mark these great celebrations, a round cake was prepared to remind us of the return of the sun after darker days. A bean was hidden in it, and the person who found it then became the “King of Saturnalia,” an ephemeral figure chosen to represent the festive disorder.

The Epiphany

Celebrated on January 6, the Epiphany commemorates—in the Christian tradition—the visit of the Three Wise Men to the Child Jesus. Guided by the Shepherd’s Star, they bring gold, frankincense and myrrh, symbols of royalty and spirituality. The word epiphany means “manifestation,” referring to the recognition of the divinity of Christ.

Over the centuries, this religious festival has been mixed with popular and gourmet traditions, of which the Epiphany cake has become the most famous emblem.

The Bean: From Symbol to Collector’s Item

Originally, a real bean was slipped into the cake. As this plant was the first to emerge in spring, it was associated with fertility and renewal. For the Greeks and Romans, it was all the more precious because it embodied life in germination.

In the Middle Ages, the custom was that whoever found the bean became the “king” of the meal... but had to pay the bill in return, which led some to swallow it to avoid paying. To put an end to this cheating, in the middle of the eighteenth century the legume was replaced by porcelain beans, which were often shaped by craftsmen.

Today, the porcelain bean has become a fascinating collector’s item. There are millions of models, and enthusiasts—favophiles—who continue to search for them with enthusiasm.

Sharing the Cake

Tradition dictates that the cake is cut into as many parts as there are guests, plus an additional portion: the poor man’s share (or God’s share), once offered to any destitute person who would present himself at the door. To ensure impartiality in the distribution, the youngest child would slip under the table and designate to whom each piece would go.

The Frangipane

In its most famous version, the Epiphany cake consists of two discs of puff pastry, containing a generous frangipane. The latter is a mixture of almond cream and pastry cream, prepared in classic proportions of 3 to 1. This balance gives the filling a smooth texture, firm enough to be cut while melting in the mouth. In France, this cake is mainly typical of the North and West.

King’s Day Around the World

The tradition varies from country to country. In the south of France, you can taste the Gâteau des Rois which, like the Roscon de Reyes in Spain, is a crown-shaped brioche filled with candied fruit, sometimes filled with cream. In Portugal, the bolo rei plays in the same vein. In Greece, the vasilopita also contains a hidden coin, but it is eaten on New Year’s Eve. In Louisiana, the tradition gave birth to the King Cake, in the colours of Mardi Gras.

Regardless of the location, the spirit of the Feast of the Kings remains the same: sharing a festive dessert that celebrates light, luck and joy. Whether you’re short on time or want to get your hands dirty, IGA offers you gourmet Epiphany cakes, ready to serve, as well as a collection of original beans to slip into your homemade creations.

Get inspired by this recipe that will delight everyone at the table: Galette des Rois with Almond Cream