On 2nd February, people across France celebrate La Chandeleur by making crêpes at home. The tradition goes back centuries: the round, golden crêpe is said to represent the sun and the promise of longer, brighter days after winter. For many families, it’s simply a familiar moment in the year.
In Year 7, this tradition came into the classroom in a very different way.

Our French Home Language students were given the opportunity to explain La Chandeleur to their MFL peers. They didn’t just talk about vocabulary or ingredients. They shared how it happens in their homes, what their families do, and how they make the batter. For the MFL students, it was a chance to hear French described by children who live it, not just learn it.

Then everyone cooked.
Groups gathered around pans, negotiating whose turn it was, helping each other, and discovering that making a thin crêpe is harder than it looks. Toppings appeared on the tables: sugar, chocolate, fruit… and some unexpected choices, including cheese and chilli.

It was a nice reminder that culture and language make much more sense when they are experienced, not just studied.