When it comes to holidays, the French tend to embrace a certain je ne sais quoi—a balance of elegance and restraint that stands in contrast to the grand, often extravagant celebrations seen in the United States. Valentine’s Day (La Saint-Valentin) is no exception. While Americans might go all out ...
Holidays
Origins of the Fête du Muguet
by Vicky Leah
A sprig of le muguet is traditionally given to loved ones to bring good fortune for the year ahead.
Long associated with spring, renewal and luck, lily of the valley is given as a gift in France on 1 May, a public holiday known as La Fête du Muguet. It’s thought that the ...
What is La Chandeleur?
Do you know about this fun holiday the French celebrate by eating crepes? It takes place 40 days after Christmas on February 2, and it commemorates the presentation of Jesus at the temple.
Like the Feast of the Epiphany, la Chandeleur began as a pagan celebration that came to be associated with ...
‘Tis the Season for Galette des Rois
Do you know about this delicious cake? It's called a Galette des Rois or King Cake, and it has been a French tradition since the 13th century - when the Church began to associate it with the Feast of the Epiphany.
The cake originally dates back to the first century before Christ, during the ...
The Bleu, Blanc Rouge of the French Flag
Celebrating France is always a good idea, but it’s especially fun on Bastille Day when so many around the world join the celebration. The flag itself always warms my heart - for me, it’s a symbol of all that I love about this beautiful country.
Designed by the painter Jacques-Louis David, the ...
Happy Valentine’s Day!
As a former English major, with a focus on medieval literature, I thought I share a bit of history on one of my favorite holidays....Saint Valentine's Day first became associated with romantic love within the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century, when the tradition of courtly love ...
