Pâques in France
Pâques is more than religious / traditional holidays for French people, it's a celebration day. It's a time when kids are hunting for chocolates eggs and bell-shaped chocolates and when families can share a great meal together.
Giving eggs is an ancient tradition that may come from Roman-Catholics. At that time, it was forbidden to eat eggs or any kind of meat products during Carême (Lent) so that, they were kept to be decorated and given during Easter. During Renaissance days, people started to give as a gift eggs made out of gold or any kind of precious metals (shame it was abandoned !). It's only in the 19th century, when chocolates became popular and cheaper in France, that chocolate-makers or chocolatiers made eggs out of chocolate.
In France, bells (with wings obviously!) traditionally bring chocolates as it's a christian symbol. Bells come from Vatican and ring every Easter to celebrate Jesus' resurrection. Bunnies do bring chocolates as well, but in the Eastern part of France (mostly in Champagne-Ardenne and Alsace Lorraine) as there was a great influence from Germany where the
Osterhase comes from. As well as eggs, it is the symbol of Spring, renewal and fertility.
In your country, how do you celebrate Easter ?
Trivia :
- French people traditionally eat lamb, as lambs are quite symbolic in Catholic religion.
- French word Pâques comes from latin
Pascha. It might be connected to hebrew roots
(Pessa'h). We dropped the "s" and replaced it with the accent "^"
as a reminiscence of the "s".
- Easter Islands (Iles de Pâques in French) were discovered an Easter day, so the name remained.
- Pascal as a name shares the same origin as Pâques
. You surely know one of the famousiest (!) and greatest French called Pascal (in his family name). It was Blaise Pascal, philosopher and mathematician.
Let's ponder over these two famous quotes :
- l'homme est un roseau, le plus faible de la nature, mais c'est un roseau pensant. (the man is a thinking reed)
- le coeur a ses raisons que la raison ne connait point. (The heart has its reasons that the reason ignore)
Joyeuses Pâques !
