King cakes, or galettes des rois, are on display at a Walloon bakery during the Epiphany Jan. 6, 2022. (U.S. Army photo by Christophe Morel, USAG Benelux Public Affairs)
Festive holiday gives rise to bakery traditions
By USAG Benelux Public Affairs Office
CHIÈVRES, Belgium – Three King’s Day or Feast of the Epiphany (Épiphanie in French, Driekoningen in Dutch and Heilige Drei Könige in German) is a religious celebration celebrating the end of the traditional 12 days of Christmas, denoting the three kings (or magi) following the Star of Bethlehem to recognize the child Jesus as the embodiment of God. In the Christian tradition, the magi present Jesus with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Within Belgium, the Netherlands and North Rhine-Westphalia, Three King’s Day is not a public holiday, but is still widely observed.
Families, friends and colleagues will often share the baked specialty king cake (Galette des rois in French, koningentaart in Dutch and Dreikönigskuchen in German). Sharing the cake is a competition to see who will be the king or queen of the day. In Belgium, you’re likely to find layers of puff pastry filled with sweet almond frangipane. Each tart contains a fève / little figurine, so whoever finds it is crowned with the crown that accompanies the galette. The figurine is usually a porcelain figurine (animal, Disney figure, so forth) to the delight of younger family members. Epiphany cakes can found be in supermarkets and bakeries.