February is the perfect time to bring French culture into your classroom in a meaningful (and delicious!) way. If you’ve ever wondered when French people eat crêpes or what they celebrate on February 2nd, La Chandeleur is the tradition your students will love discovering.
Also known as la fête des crêpes, La Chandeleur is celebrated every year on February 2nd in France and other Francophone regions. While the holiday has religious roots (Candlemas), today it’s best known for one thing: eating crêpes—often with fun traditions and superstitions attached.
In this post, you’ll find engaging La Chandeleur activities for French class that help students explore the culture behind this famous French tradition while building language skills. Whether you teach Core French or French Immersion, these activities are flexible, hands-on, and classroom-tested.
What Is La Chandeleur? (And Why Do French People Eat Crêpes?)
French people traditionally eat crêpes on February 2nd to celebrate La Chandeleur. Long ago, the round, golden shape of crêpes symbolized the return of the sun and the hope of a good harvest. Over time, this celebration evolved into a beloved cultural tradition centered around food, family, and fun.
There’s even a famous superstition:
If you flip a crêpe successfully while holding a coin in your hand, you’ll have good luck for the year!
For students, La Chandeleur is a perfect entry point into French cultural celebrations—it’s visual, relatable, and deliciously memorable.
La Chandeleur Activity Packet: Learn the Tradition Step by Step
If you’re looking for a structured way to introduce La Chandeleur in French class, this bilingual La Chandeleur activity packet helps students uncover the meaning behind the celebration while practicing reading comprehension and vocabulary.
This resource is ideal for Core French and French Immersion students and works well for whole-class lessons, centers, or sub plans.
What’s Included in the La Chandeleur Activity Packet:
A short presentation about La Chandeleur in English
A short presentation about La Chandeleur in French
Comprehension questions in English
Comprehension questions in French
A word search with Chandeleur vocabulary
A maze activity: Help Bernard find the crêpes 🥞
A research project: Create a crêpes recipe
A creative task: Draw your favorite crêpes and label the toppings in French
These activities guide students to answer big cultural questions like:
When do French people eat crêpes?
Why is February 2nd important in France?
What symbols and traditions are associated with La Chandeleur?
La Chandeleur Activity Packet: Learn the Tradition Step by Step
Collaborative French Culture Quilt: A Creative Way to Celebrate La Chandeleur
For a more hands-on and visual approach, this La Chandeleur French culture quilt activity is a favorite for building community and creativity in the classroom.
This collaborative project invites students to design a quilt square inspired by La Chandeleur, featuring crêpes, pans, ingredients, and French expressions tied to this festive winter celebration. As students illustrate traditions and write short descriptions in French, they contribute to a vibrant classroom display that celebrates French culture.
Perfect for Core French and French Immersion, this activity works beautifully as:
A bulletin board
A hallway display
A French culture showcase
A February classroom refresh
What’s Included in the Culture Quilt Activity:
30 Pre-Made Quilt Squares with Informative Sentences
Each square includes a clear, student-friendly sentence in English about La Chandeleur traditions, symbols, or ingredients—great for introducing cultural concepts.
10 Blank Quilt Square Templates
Students write their own sentences based on what they’ve learned, allowing for differentiation and creativity.
20 Chandeleur-Themed Coloring Squares
Festive illustrations featuring whisks, pans, crêpes, ingredients, and lucky coin traditions. These can be used in the quilt or as stand-alone activities.
1 Printable French Display Header
A bold French header ties the entire quilt together for a polished classroom or hallway display.
How to Use This Resource in Class:
Print & Choose – Let students select from quote squares, blank templates, and coloring designs.
Color & Create – Students color and write short reflections or descriptions in French.
Assemble the Quilt – Combine all squares into a large collaborative display and add the header.
The result?
A beautiful La Chandeleur quilt that strengthens language skills, builds cultural understanding, and brings students together—one square at a time.
French Virtual Field Trip to La Crêperie: Bring Culture to Life
Want to immerse students even more deeply in French culture? This French Virtual Field Trip to La Crêperie is a perfect companion activity for La Chandeleur—especially during winter months or distance learning.
This 23-page PowerPoint presentation (entirely in French) takes students inside a real French crêperie and works beautifully:
On a projector in class
On Zoom (just share your screen)
During distance learning or hybrid lessons
What’s Included in the Virtual Field Trip:
Teacher directions
Anticipatory set and guiding questions
Facts about French crêperies
Video link: Rencontre le meilleur crêpier de Bretagne (in French)
Video link: La crêpe Suzette (in French)
Closing activity suggestions
This virtual experience helps students connect language, culture, and real-life context—making La Chandeleur feel authentic and memorable.
Why Teach La Chandeleur in French Class?
La Chandeleur is more than just crêpes—it’s an opportunity to:
Teach French cultural traditions
Build vocabulary in a meaningful context
Encourage creativity and collaboration
Get students excited about French culture in February
Whether you choose a structured activity packet, a creative culture quilt, or an immersive virtual field trip, these La Chandeleur activities for French class make cultural learning engaging, accessible, and fun.
Merci for making French culture come alive in your classroom—one crêpe (and one quilt square) at a time 🥞
👉 Click here to download 30 FREE activities to help your students speak more French!