Les fêtes
La galette des rois: the French king cake, explained for families
The galette des rois is a flat puff-pastry cake filled with almond cream, eaten in France for Epiphany, in early January, and all through the month. A small charm, la fève, hides inside. Whoever finds it is king or queen for the day.
la galette des rois
the kings' cake
Say it la ga-LET day RWA
Ten phrases for the galette
In the order it happens at the table.
- On tire les rois ! Let's draw the kings! Say it on TEER lay RWA What French families say when the galette comes out.
- Va sous la table. Go under the table. Say it va soo la TAB-luh The youngest goes under, so they can't see the slices.
- C'est pour qui ? Who is this one for? Say it say poor KEE An adult points at a slice; the child under the table names who gets it.
- Pour maman. For Mummy. Say it poor ma-MAHN
- Attention à la fève ! Watch out for the charm! Say it a-tahn-SYON a la FEV
- Qui a la fève ? Who's got the charm? Say it kee a la FEV
- C'est moi ! It's me! Say it say MWA
- Tu es le roi ! Tu es la reine ! You're the king! You're the queen! Say it too ay luh RWA, too ay la REN
- Mets la couronne. Put the crown on. Say it may la koo-RON
- Vive le roi ! Vive la reine ! Long live the king! Long live the queen! Say it veev luh RWA, veev la REN
How the galette works
- The charm. A tiny figure, la fève, is baked inside the cake. Long ago it was a dried broad bean, which is what fève means.
- The table. The youngest child goes under the table, sous la table, where they can’t see the slices.
- The slices. An adult points at a slice and asks C’est pour qui ? The child calls out a name. Fair, and no arguing.
- The crown. Whoever finds the fève wears the paper crown, la couronne, and chooses a king or queen.
When is it eaten?
Epiphany, l’Épiphanie, is traditionally 6 January: the day the three kings reached the stable in the Christmas story. In France it’s celebrated on the first Sunday of January. In practice, French bakery windows fill with galettes from the first days of January to the end of the month, and plenty of families eat more than one.
North and south
In the north, the galette is puff pastry filled with almond cream, la frangipane. In the south, it’s le gâteau des rois, a ring of brioche studded with candied fruit.
With a toddler at the table
The fève is small and hard. Check a toddler’s slice before it reaches their plate, or hide the fève in a grown-up’s slice and let your child do the job under the table.
Make the crown first
Cut a zigzag strip of gold paper, staple it to fit, and write Roi or Reine on the front. A child who has made a crown will ask what it’s for, and you get to say la galette des rois.
Free bedtime script
Crowns off, pyjamas on
The Le Dodo script takes it from the table to lights out.
Ten bedtime phrases, each with a say-it guide, on one page for the bedroom door.
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Download it now (PDF)Questions parents ask
What is a galette des rois?
A flat puff-pastry cake filled with almond cream, frangipane, with a small charm hidden inside. It's eaten in France in January.
When do you eat the galette des rois?
For Epiphany, the first Sunday of January in France, and in practice all through January. French bakeries make them for most of the month.
Why does a child go under the table?
So they can't see the slices. They call out who gets each piece, which keeps the sharing fair.
What is the fève?
The small charm hidden in the cake. Fève means broad bean, which is what was hidden in it long ago.
What happens if you find the fève?
You're king or queen for the day. You wear the paper crown and choose your king or queen.
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Updated 16 October 2026