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 ...
Culture and Tradition
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 ...
Eugénie Grandet
I have a penchant for high-quality period films, especially those in French. So, when Eugénie Grandet was strongly recommended by a friend, it became a must see for me.
The movie was written and directed by novelist Marc Dugain after Honoré de Balzac’s literary masterpiece of the same title. It ...
‘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 ...
How to Keep Up Your French Language Skills
Every year at this time, I think about my life and what I can do to make it a little more enriching. Inevitably, keeping up on my French language skills comes to mind. So, I thought I would share some tips in the hopes of inspiring you.
Read French Books and Magazines
The internet has ...
A New Chapter for the Château de Chassagny
Today, I am thinking of my dear friend Edouard. The contents of his family’s historic 12th century Chateau de Chassagny is being auctioned.
This beautiful Chateau is about 20 minutes south of Lyon. It sits at the edge of the village that bears its name - on the Mornantet river, facing the ...
