Vacations & Events | A French Collection

Easter Traditions in France

Les Traditions De Pâques

How is Easter celebrated in France and what are the Easter traditions that make "Pâques" (Easter in French) so special? Learn more about Easter food, the magic bells and what days are public holidays, together with what our family does at Easter time in France.

This important celebration and holiday on the French calendar is widely observed across the nation. Easter Good Friday commemorates Jesus Christ's crucifixion, Easter Sunday celebrates Jesus' resurrection, and the day after Easter Sunday is Easter Monday. This Monday is a public holiday in France.

France has some unusual Easter traditions that we'll take a better look at including magic flying bells, a disappearing bunny and a giant omelette.

Mimosa Festival in France

Fête du Mimosa at Mandelieu-la-Napoule

The Mimosa Festival celebrates the bright yellow fluffy flower which flourishes in February and brightens France's southern winter landscapes. The Côte d'Azur is ablaze with the fresh yellow glow of blooming mimosa which cheerily brightens public places and private gardens with its colourful bushes. This treat from Mother Nature is called the 'winter sun' by the locals and looks like a sea of yellow from January to March.

The arrival of its thick golden clusters of flowers which results in a flowering golden haze heralds the oncoming of spring and warmer weather, and is celebrated across towns in Provence. Forming a striking contrast with the vibrant blues of the Mediterranean, these evergreen trees with their bunches of fluffy, powdery, and fragile looking bright yellow small balls attract nearly 100,000 visitors each year.

Halloween in France

I've just spent another Halloween in France and thought I'd share my experiences with you. Halloween is not a tradition that I grew up with or one that I celebrated with my children as they grew up. However, the last two years I've been in France for Halloween and I've enjoyed two different experiences around the event. This year I was in Paris and last year I was at home in my village where I got involved in village Halloween activities and loved it!

Let me take a moment to set the scene. At my home in Australia our driveway is long, over 200 metres long, and after you leave the public roadway, our driveway goes down a steep hill and turns at 'the big tree' and it ends up at our house and small garage. The driveway is bordered by two metre high hedges on either side and there are no lamp-posts or solar lights and large gum trees filter any moon light.

October is National Dessert Month

October is National Dessert Month

A whole month celebrating cakes, cookies, pies, tartes, flans and ice-cream sounds amazing doesn't it. Well, that's what we can all do for the whole month of October because October is National Dessert Month.

Of course, celebrating National Dessert Month is rather easy when you live in France because small towns and sometimes even little villages, will have their own boulangerie with tempting desserts to choose from, and when we talk about France's large cities, well the choice of pâtisseries is almost endless!

Saint-Émilion Grape Harvest Festival

Saint-Émilion Grape Harvest Festival

Saint-Émilion is a commune in the Gironde department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in Southwestern France. It's in a region of wine hills steeped in wine making history that is still relevant today. Saint-Émilion is one of those stunning medieval cities that France is well known for and it's conveniently located at the crossroads of Bordeaux, Saintonge and Périgord. I mean, how more perfect could the town's location be for those of us that like to explore the very best of France! Saint-Émilion is also a UNESCO World Heritage.

Today we're sharing some information about Saint-Émilion and its famous grape harvest festival, Fête des Vendanges, which is currently on right now.

Santonniers of Provence seek UNESCO status

Santonniers of Provence Seek UNESCO Status

Did you catch in the news a couple of months back how the French baguette has just been awarded UNESCO status? Chosen as the winner by the French who voted in 2021 from the choices of the distinctive grey zinc roofs of Paris, the tradition of wine festivals, and the baguette - the crusty bread stick won hands down!

Well, another French traditional product has applied for UNESCO status. The Santon makers of Provence have put forward their craft. They have formed an association named 'Savoir-faire des Santonniers de Provence', with the intention of getting the process of creating the hand-painted clay figurines included on the list of intangible cultural heritage. Just like the baguette.

World Chocolate Day in France

World Chocolate Day is celebrated across the world on 7 July each year and in our family we always look forward to this delicious day of celebration. What about in France, is World Chocolate Day just another day, or is it something special? France is known for its gourmet food and luxury brands and chocolate falls into both these categories. Ancient stores with family run chocolate businesses, luxurious department stores and modern concept stores all sell chocolate in France, and they sell a lot!

Annette Charlton

Annette lives with her family between their homes in France and Australia. She’s been featured in International magazines including French Property News, on ABC National Radio, numerous blogs and travel websites. You can connect on Instagram or Facebook.

www.afrenchcollection.com

World Baking Day

Happy World Baking Day

World Baking Day is a day of celebration held annually on the third Sunday of each May. It's a day for everyone to get baking their favourite recipe and enjoy delicious food with family and friends. So grab your rolling pin, flour, sugar, butter and apron and turn on your oven.

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Easter Traditions in France

Easter Traditions in France

Les Traditions De Pâques

Mimosa Festival in France

Mimosa Festival in France

Fête du Mimosa at Mandelieu-la-Napoule

Halloween in France

Halloween in France

October is National Dessert Month

October is National Dessert Month

Saint-Émilion Grape Harvest Festival

Saint-Émilion Grape Harvest Festival

Santonniers of Provence seek UNESCO status

Santonniers of Provence Seek UNESCO Status

World Chocolate Day in France

World Chocolate Day in France

World Baking Day

Happy World Baking Day

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