Today is the Epiphany (l’Epiphanie).  It is a Christian holiday that celebrates the time when the three wise men followed the north star to Bethlehem where they found baby Jesus and gifted him with gold (de l’or), myrrah (de la myrrhe) and incense (de l’encens).    One of the traditions in France on this day is to have a galette des rois (wise men cake or 3 Magi bread).  The galette dates back to the 14th century and was traditionally divided into enough portions for all the people present plus one more for the first poor person that passed by.  Nowadays, the first portion is usually reserved for the youngest person in the family.  A white or black bean (fève) is hidden in the cake and the one who finds it is crowned the king and can choose his queen for the day or vice versa.  Most homemade cakes have a dry bean hidden inside, but the bakeries now insert plastic ones.  In the past, beans made out of porcelain, earthenware and even precious metals have been placed inside the cakes.  There is even a museum in Blain, France which showcases all types of these collector’s items.   In the south, they often have a couronne en brioche (brioche in the form of a crown) instead.Galette des rois