Tortell de rice
A tortell de rice is a Christmas cake from Catalonia . It is a ring-shaped pastry that is filled with marzipan and is sometimes topped with glazed fruit.
The Tortell is traditionally on January 6, the Christian feast of the Epiphany , served. This day coincides with the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas and is also celebrated as the Day of the Three Kings .
particularities
A tortell de rice ("king cake") contains two small surprises inside: on the one hand a dried field bean and on the other hand a small figurine of the same size. The person who finds the figurine in their piece of pastry may put on a paper crown. The person who finds the dried bean pays for the tortell. The same tradition is known in the rest of Spain as Roscón de Reyes . It is the Catalan variant of the Epiphany cake , which is available in several countries.
Instructions for handling the king cake
Catalan pastry shops often include instructions (often in poetic form) on how to use this cake. In the following, such a saying is reproduced in German translation:
- A good king cake
- When you get the bean, then pay the cake without grief.
- And don't lose hope because you will be happy doing it.
- And when you find the king figure, you will have no choice
- than to be crowned king in this discreet celebration.
- Tradition and a healthy dose of happiness form a circle around the table.
- We eat a great cake in peace and open-hearted harmony.
literature
- Martin Marix-Evans: The Twelve Days of Christmas , 2002
- Gerry Bowler: The World Encyclopedia of Christmas , 2004
- Ace Collins: Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas , 2003
