le 8 Mai 2026

Your Paris Postcard has arrived—bringing you this week’s cultural highlights, timeless traditions, and beautiful moments from the City of Light.

Today marks Victory in Europe Day (VE-Day), also known as Jour de la Victoire—the anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. In Paris, the day is commemorated with a parade on the Champs-Élysées and a ceremonial wreath laying at the Arc de Triomphe. One of my most cherished memories is hearing a firsthand account of how the events of VE Day actually unfolded in 1945 from my dear friend, Cécile Spalding. She described American troops rolling through her neighborhood on Avenue Mozart, everyone pouring into the streets in a state of total jubilation, Champagne and wine flowing like water. She couldn’t believe it — where did it all come from? For so long Parisians had nothing—absolutely nothing, rien du tout—yet Champagne and wine were suddenly everywhere.

Cecile was a talented artist – below is a painting she did in 1945, as a student at Ecole Municipal de Dessin et Art, where she graduated with honors that same year.

Today also marks the start of the annual Fête du Pain. To me, this event is unmistakably French. In France, bread is not simply food, but part of the country’s cultural identity, daily ritual, and even its literary history—perhaps the most famous example is Les Misérables, where a single loaf of bread becomes the catalyst for an entire story.

The festival honors the craft of traditional bread-making with demonstrations, tastings, and workshops led by bakers and pastry chefs. One of the liveliest celebrations takes place on the parvis of Notre-Dame de Paris, where bakers set up outdoor ovens and host special events. Another fun anecdote: when I lived in Lille, bakers protested boxed cereal because growing cereal sales were hurting bread sales and degrading bread culture.

Also at Notre-Dame, La Nuit des Cathédrales returns on May 9, offering a rare opportunity to experience the cathedral after dark. This annual event blends cultural and spiritual dimensions, opening the cathedral for candlelit tours, organ concerts, literary readings, guided visits, and moments of quiet reflection. Special programming also extends onto the parvis near the Charlemagne statue, where visitors can pause and take in the illuminated façade in a more intimate, atmospheric setting than during daytime hours.

Aside from these events, the second week of May is relatively quiet and, in my mind, a clear turning point in the city’s rhythm—when early spring gives way to a fuller calendar of cultural events and evening programming as we head into summer. Next week’s postcard will bring a surge of seasonal openings and longer evenings as the city moves into its summer rhythm. Stay tuned!

#ICYMI

In case you missed it, earlier this week I shared a recipe for œufs en cocotte—a simple, seasonal French classic that feels both elegant and effortless. It’s a cozy dish that works beautifully for spring brunches or quiet mornings at home.

For a bit of nostalgia, I’m sharing this post from September 2008: Passy – J’aime Mon Quartier, describing my beloved neighborhood in the 16th arrondissement.

xoxo, Jeannine