Easter Celebrations in France

Easter in France is known as Paques. It is celebrated with the same Grandeur as in United States of America. Flying Bells, Eggs, Fish, and rolling eggs are part of the Easter celebrations in France. If you are a chocolate lover,

you are sure to have a feast during Easter. This is because most of the shops sell rabbits or bunnies, bells, chickens, and fishes that are made purely of solid chocolate. Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is also the first holiday in spring when people bid farewell to chilly dark winter. Shopping for goodies, decorative items, and dresses, and gifts is common and are activities that people enjoy.

French Celebration of Easter

Homes are decorated and so are the public places like parks, art galleries, and museums. Profits soar and shops do brisk business. Read further to know more about the celebrations that take place during Easter in France.

Feast
Leg of lamb or Gigot D’agneau is one of the main menus in Easter feast. Spring vegetables and lamb stew form an important part of the traditional feast in France. Other dishes prepared during this ocassion includes Artichoke, Aioli, Granita, Crepes Suzette, and Spinach Nissarda.

Eggs
Easter celebrations in France are not complete without Easter eggs. Children eagerly wait for Sunday when they look for colored eggs in their nests. Children set up nests in gardens and backyards so that they receive Easter eggs. Another important event that takes place during this is rolling off Easter eggs. There is a tradition of rolling eggs down slopes. The eggs that remain intact are referred to as victory eggs. There is another tradition in which kids have to throw their eggs up in the air. If you drop it you are out of the contest. Children who can collect most number of eggs from the nest usually receive gifts from elders.

Fish
Easter fish in France is referred to as Poisson d’Avril or “April Fish”. The fish is one of the Easter symbols in France. An interesting activity that most of the children enjoy doing is sticking images of fishes on the back of elders. Children compete by counting the number of images they have successfully pasted onto the back of elders. This is a trick that is very similar to April’s Fool Day in which you try to trick someone or play pranks.

Bells
“The bells have flown away to Rome”, this is the story that is narrated by most mothers to their children during Easter. The story is closely related to its celebrations in France. The church bells stop ringing from Good Friday until Sunday morning. There is a common belief that on Good Friday, all the bells of the church “fly to Rome” thereby carrying with them grief and distress of the people who regret and mourn the loss of Jesus Christ when he was crucified. It is also believed that when these Easter bells return on Easter Sunday, they bring along with them lot of happiness, chocolates and fun filled moments.

Last Updated on 24/02/2011