6 January is not only significant as the day that you should take down your Christmas tree (if you adhere to the 12 Days of Christmas rule), but also marks its own little tradition in Luxembourg.

Straight to the point, why are the supermarkets all selling frangipane tarts? 

Now, normally we would expect January to be a month of less indulgence than December, and it is to a certain extent. But there is a celebration that takes place shortly after Christmas and New Year's, which offers yet another occasion to feast (on a tart)!

6 January is Dräikinneksdag, which translates to Three Kings Day, but is more commonly known as Epiphany in English. The day is a Christian celebration, but, like many other festivals, was appropriated from the Pagans. The original Pagan festival celebrated light, as from this day onwards, the days start getting a bit longer. In my opinion, that is enough cause for celebration, but there is of course a biblical connotation as well.

In Christiandom, the day celebrates the visit of the Three Kings/Three Wise Men to Jesus, who come bestowing their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Check out Kachen's recipe here.

But it isn't a public holiday?

Exactly! Unlike Spain, which holds El Día de los Reyes in higher regard than Christmas, Sweden, Italy, or Finland, to name a few, Epiphany is not a public holiday in Luxembourg. Whilst the Grand Duchy does celebrate the tradition, it is predominantly limited to feasting on the cake.

Right, of course, the cake. How is that relevant? 

The cake, which mainly consists of a puff pastry tart with a frangipane filling (I do believe there is an apple alternative for those who hiss at the thought of frangipane or anything vaguely similar to marzipan), is called the Dräikinnekskuch or Three King's Cake. In French, the tart is referred to as a galette des rois.

You'll be able to find such tarts in various supermarkets throughout Luxembourg, but you can of course make your own as well. For a link to a recipe by Anne's Kitchen, check out the bottom of the article!

So the celebration just boils down to eating a cake?

Not exactly. You see, when you purchase the cake from a supermarket, it comes with a paper crown. Hidden in the cake is a porcelain bean, otherwise called a fève, and whoever's slice contains the bean gets to be the king! It adds an element of fun, but do beware, as sometimes siblings get a bit competitive.

Some megalomaniacs (not to name anyone in particular) get a bit ... power hungry and decide having the slice with the bean makes them the supreme ruler for the day. Perhaps it is worth checking with your family first before proclaiming such a thing.

Indeed, some people do get a bit tactical and enjoy the rush of power. You may find members of your family like to try and gauge where the bean is in order to pick a slice tactically.

Back to why we eat a cake to celebrate Epiphany, that isn't quite clear, but it is likely that the cake, with its golden colour and round shape, symbolises the sun and refers back to the original Pagan origins of the festival.

Enjoy your cake, but make sure to not eat the porcelain figurine!