Category: Holidays in France

  • It’s Easter Monday and an official holiday in France, the culmination of le Carême (Lent), and also the last day of the long French holiday weekend. Le lundi de Pâques marks the end of la semaine sainte (Holy Week) which starts with Palm Sunday – le Dimanche des Rameaux. My favorite Palm Sunday in France…

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  • When I was living in Paris in the early 1990s long before American Thanksgiving in France had become trendy, I remember opening the pages of the International Herald Tribune* on my first Thanksgiving Thursday in la Capitale. As I flipped through, a particular column caught my eye: “Merci Donnant.” Now, anyone who can speak French knows…

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  • In France, New Year’s greetings and king’s cakes go hand in hand. After all the Christmas bûches de Noël (yule log cakes), it’s immediately time for the galettes des rois (king’s or kings’ cakes). During the season of Epiphanie, also known as la Fête des rois (Three Kings Day, or Feast of the Epiphany, or…

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  • Yesterday, my husband and I joined the crowds of bustling French shoppers picking up last minute items for Christmas. Yes, people were out buying gifts but the main attraction of course was the FOOD. This is France, after all. The boulangeries (bakeries), pâtisseries (pastry shops), boucheries (butchers), charcuteries (gourmet deli, though that term doesn’t do it justice in France!), poissoneries…

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  • Since it’s Easter and eggs are top of mind, I’m reposting a previous article on wonderful eggs in France. “Joyeuses Pâques” to you and yours! I am always amazed at the food side of Easter in France. Of course, the French plan a big Easter Sunday lunch with family and all kinds of favorite recipes…

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  • This past week in France has been la Semaine Sainte (Holy Week) in the Christian tradition. The culmination of the period of Lent or le Carême, it started off last weekend with Palm Sunday, le dimanche des Rameaux, and has continued on to le Vendredi Saint. In France on Good Friday, faithful Catholics often attend Good Friday prayer…

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  • Move over les bûches de Noël (yule log cakes), it’s time for les galettes des rois (king’s cakes). In France, the holiday sweets keep coming even after Christmas with Epiphanie, also known as la Fête des rois (Three Kings Day, or Feast of the Epiphany), and its signature galette des rois. You can’t miss Epiphany…

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  • In France, the holidays, or les fêtes de fin d’année and also known as la période des fêtes (note that the expression “le temps des fêtes” is used in French-speaking Canada), are about family, friends and feasting – especially the feasting. This applies to le Réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre (New Year’s Eve) in particular. French…

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  • It’s nearly December and the start of la période des fêtes (the holiday season) in France. The holidays are one of my most favorite things about the country, not least because of the Christmas eve and New Year’s eve dinners. The French spare no expense in pulling together the tastiest and most beautiful flavors of…

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