Quebec's Epiphany: A Nostalgic Cake Fit For Both Kings And Family

I was first introduced to a gâteau des rois, or king cake, as a child growing up in Montreal. My mother had made it to celebrate Epiphany, on Jan. 6, and I was excited to discover a wax paper-wrapped coin baked inside my piece. My younger sister had one in hers, too. This meant we would each receive a small gift. We only did this a few times as a family over the years, but I've always remembered those times with a special fondness.

The Epiphany is a Christian holiday commemorating the manifestation of Jesus Christ to the Magi, when they arrived in Bethlehem to present the is a Catholic custom that originates from a Roman pagan ritual, which came to Quebec via France. The Romans would bake a cake, inside of which they would place a bean or a porcelain fish. Whoever discovered the object — regardless of his or her social status — would play king or queen for a day and the others would be the finder's slaves.