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Category Archives: Customs
Bowled Over: One of France’s Favourite Sports
Under the plane trees on the outskirts of a southern French village, an ancient tradition is taking place. A knot of men is gathered, fortified by glasses of Pastis. The sun dipping behind the trees makes zebra patterns on the … Continue reading
Posted in Customs, French life
Tagged boules, faire la bise à Fanny, la Boule Lyonnaise, Marcel Pagnol, pétanque, Provence, SW France
4 Comments
La Chandeleur: Candles, Customs and Crêpes
Today is la Chandeleur or la fête des chandelles. I had never heard of it before we moved to France, but I had heard of Candlemas – lovely name – which is the British equivalent. To those of you in … Continue reading
Posted in Customs, History
Tagged Candlemas, crêpes, French customs, Groundhog Day, La Chandeleur, la fête des chandelles, pancakes, SW France
3 Comments
Épiphanie, the Day of the Three Kings, in France
Now that New Year’s Eve has passed, I can wish you all a very happy, healthy and peaceful 2019. In France, it’s considered bad luck to do so before midnight on 31st December. Although we have turned the corner of … Continue reading
Posted in Customs, Food/drink/recipes
Tagged Épiphanie, Caylus Notre Village, Epiphany, France, French customs, Galette des rois, SW France, three Magi, Twelfth Night
10 Comments
Mistletoe in French Tradition
When I lived in the UK, mistletoe was a rarity, only to be found in over-priced bunches in garden centres during the run-up to Christmas. Moving here, I saw that it grows abundantly in our area. Some species of tree … Continue reading
Posted in Customs, Nature
Tagged Christmas traditions, Druids, Gauls, gui, mistletoe, mistletoe on oaks, SW France
4 Comments
Béret Nice
Along with the Eiffel Tower, the baguette and the Citroën 2CV, the béret has become a (caricatured) symbol of French culture. Thus, it was adopted by people like Ernest Hemingway, who wanted to look French even if they weren’t – … Continue reading
Posted in Customs, History
Tagged béret production, Bearn, beret, Blanq-Olibet, French beret, Musée du Beret, Nay, SW France
2 Comments
France’s Flower of the Dead
For a fortnight or so before 1st November (Toussaint; All Saints’ Day) pavements outside French florists’ shops and undertakers, and whole marquees at supermarkets, are heaving with chrysanthemums in pots. But don’t be tempted to offer a pot as a … Continue reading
Posted in Customs, History
Tagged Chapelle de Teysserolles, chrysanthemums, flower of the dead, French cemeteries, SW France, Toussaint, World War I
8 Comments
Rentrée Time
Here we are in September again. How did that happen? Surely Easter was only last week. Actually, I don’t mind. This is my favourite month of the year, perhaps because I was born in September (cards and presents welcome). We … Continue reading
Posted in Customs, French life
Tagged autumn, la rentrée, la rentrée politique, la rentrée scolaire, summer, Summer holidays, SW France
6 Comments
Saint John’s Day Customs in France
Yesterday marked la Fête de la Saint-Jean, which occurs on 24th June each year, although the festivities normally take place the night before. It’s a not uncommon example of a pagan celebration taken over by the Catholic Church to commemorate … Continue reading
A French Country Wedding
Weddings were in the air a fortnight ago, with the latest royal event. As is often the case, my historical research appetite was whetted. So let’s go back a century … Continue reading
When Should You Use Tu or Vous?
Today, I revisit a topic that I covered when I first started this blog nearly eight years ago. It’s an aspect of French society and culture that perplexes Brits no end and whatever you do, there’s a fair chance that … Continue reading
Posted in Customs, Language
Tagged France, French, French culture, French etiquette, French language, tu or vous, tutoiement
49 Comments
Getting a (Social) Life in France
Making friends is difficult when moving to a new country. Twenty years ago, our Brummie removal men asked, “Do you know anyone here?” When we said no, they shook their heads in disbelief. If you move to la France profonde, … Continue reading
French Flavours #3: C is for Cassoulet
I can’t allow the letter C to pass by without writing about cassoulet, the signature dish of southwest France. It’s been around for a long time and the correct recipe is the subject of controversy. What is it? A stew … Continue reading
10 French Christmas Traditions
Like every country in Christendom, France has a range of Christmas traditions, local and nationwide. I explore a few in this post. Christmas used to be lower key, less commercialised and of shorter duration than in the UK. During our … Continue reading
Posted in Customs, History
Tagged Bûche de Noël, chansons de Noël, Christmas, Corsica, French Christmas traditions, Noël, rural life, santons, SW France
28 Comments
French Telephone Etiquette
Even after more than 19 years in France, I lift the receiver with apprehension when the phone rings. This is partly because it’s invariably a cold caller. It’s also because dealing with people on the phone in French is damn … Continue reading
Posted in Customs, French life
Tagged cold calling, etiquette, France, social customs, SW France, telephone etiquette
19 Comments
Cantal le Beau
I’m never quite sure which destination appeals to me more: Cantal or Corsica. They are both mountainous and beautiful in their own way, but very different. Cantal, of course, is easier to get to, being only just over two hours’ … Continue reading
Posted in Auvergne, Customs, Walking in France
Tagged Auvergne, burons, Cantal, cantal cheese, L'Elancèze, Monts du Cantal, Plomb du Cantal, Thiézac, Walking in France
10 Comments
Pastis: A Quercy Speciality
Hands up everyone who thought pastis was an aniseed-flavoured apéritif. It is; but it’s not a local speciality here. The pastis I’m talking about is an apple dessert made with very fine pastry, which is particular to the Lot and … Continue reading
How to Queue in France
Forming a neat queue is inscribed in we Brits’ DNA. Not so our French counterparts. Our two countries are separated only by a 30-mile stretch of water, but in some respects it might as well be 30 light years. … Continue reading
Posted in Customs, French life, Rants
Tagged French culture, living in France, queuing, queuing in France, social customs, SW France
19 Comments
French Solstice Customs
This post was written in 2014. This year, 2019, the solstice occurs at 5.19 am Central European Time (4.19 am GMT) on 22nd December. We’re in winter now, marked by a sharp frost and bright sunshine (hurray!). The winter solstice … Continue reading
Posted in Corsica, Customs, History
Tagged Bûche de Noël, Christmas, Christmas Eve, Corsica, France, Noël, pagan traditions, solstice, solstice bonfires, solstice d'hiver, winter solstice
9 Comments
Carol Services with the Choeur de Parisot 2014
Christmas carol services are a British import into France. The French have fewer Christmas songs and they don’t have a tradition of special carol services. However, it’s something they have enthusiastically embraced, even if they regard them as concerts rather … Continue reading
Things I Didn’t Know When I Moved to France: Part 1, the Positives
Now, you’re all thinking I’m going to complain about everything I’ve encountered in France since moving here 17 years ago. Not so. What follows in this post is complimentary; Part 2 (to be posted later) is less so. I’ve restricted … Continue reading
Posted in Customs, French life, History
Tagged etiquette, France, French health system, French local government, living in France, patrimoine, social customs, SW France
35 Comments
Unexpected Finds About World War II at a Vide-Greniers
It’s that time of year again. You only have to park the car for five minutes and you find your windscreen bristling with flyers for vide-greniers (jumble sales). Around here, there’s at least one a week for the foreseeable future. … Continue reading
May 1st – la Fête du Travail in France
May 1st has a special significance in the French calendar, since it’s la Fête du Travail (labour day), when everyone downs tools. Even our local newsagent closes on May 1st, although it is open every other day of the year, … Continue reading
Posted in Customs, History
Tagged Fête du Muguet, Fête du Travail, Labour Day, Lily of the Valley, May 1st, Muguet, social customs
4 Comments
French and Corsican Easter Traditions
The celebration of Easter in France doesn’t diverge hugely from its counterpart in the UK, apart from the obvious religious differences. People consume large quantities of chocolate and Paschal lamb, for example. However, there are some traditions and customs that … Continue reading
Posted in Corsica, Customs, History
Tagged Cloches de Pâques, Corsican Easter procession, Easter, Easter traditions, France, French traditions, Pâques, Sartène, U catenacciu
1 Comment
More French Superstitions
The post I wrote in November 2010 (is it really that long ago?) on French superstitions is the most popular I have written. So I decided to continue my researches and find some more for your delectation. Some were kindly … Continue reading
Posted in Customs, French life
Tagged cat superstitions, customs, France, French customs, French superstitions, superstitions, SW France
9 Comments
Five Signs of New Year in France
First, a slightly belated Happy New Year to everyone. I hope you have a happy, healthy and peaceful year. Serial over-indulgence during the festive season followed by self-enforced repose has kept me away from blogging for a few days. But … Continue reading
Posted in Customs, French life
Tagged Epiphany, Galette des rois, Meilleurs Voeux, New Year's customs, SW France, Twelfth Night
11 Comments
Midnight Mass in France
People celebrate Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve throughout France. We went this year to the service at l’Eglise Saint-Andéol in Parisot. Père Serge, the local priest, had asked for volunteers from le Choeur de Parisot to swell the ranks of … Continue reading
Posted in Customs, French life, Places
Tagged Choeur de Parisot, Christmas, Christmas Eve, Eglise Saint-Andéol, Midnight Mass, Parisot
5 Comments
To Crèche or Not To Crèche
Political correctness sometimes verges on the downright barmy. France is a secular society, which is fair enough. Public employees in France are not permitted to display ostentatious symbols of religious affiliation, such as foulards (headscarves) or large crucifixes. These issues … Continue reading
Posted in Customs, French life, Places, Rants
Tagged Christmas, creche, French customs, laicité, Parisot, SNCF, SNCF at Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Villefranche de Rouergue
11 Comments
A French Country Upbringing
‘Of course, Occitan was my first language,’ our friend Georgette said. I was sitting next to her at an association lunch today. She has never talked much about her childhood but, once I had started questioning her (no one is … Continue reading
Posted in Customs, History, Personalities, World War I & II
Tagged Claude Michelet, farming, French country life, Occitan, Occitan hymn, rural life, SW France
9 Comments
Saint Catherine’s Day Customs
‘A la Sainte-Cathérine, tout bois prend racine.’ On St. Catherine’s Day (25th November) all wood takes root. This oft-quoted saying implies that the climatic conditions are right for planting trees and shrubs on that day. I’ll return to this below. … Continue reading
