With the Easter weekend fast approaching and lots of our Active Languages clients making the most of the break to brush up on their French at ACCORD Paris, we thought we’d take a look at Easter traditions in France and how they compare to the UK. Let’s hop to it!
Who brings the eggs?
In Britain, the Easter Bunny pays our gardens a visit and hides eggs for little ones to find… but there’s no lapin in sight in France (although you may find an Easter hare in some of the Germanic regions such as Alsace). Why’s that? Because the bells are in charge of bringing the eggs across the Channel. The church bells all fall silent on Maundy Thursday as they fly off to Rome to mourn the death of Christ. When they return on Easter Sunday, they bring lots of chocolates with them and ring loud and proud so the kids know they can come out and search for Easter eggs. This tradition is known as the cloches de Pâques and explains why you’ll see lots of little chocolate bells in the pâtisserie window displays as you wander around Paris after your French lesson at ACCORD French Language School.
Where can you buy Easter chocolate?
You can pick up your chocolate treats in any corner shop or supermarket here in the UK. You can shop for Easter eggs in the French supermarkets too, but if you want something special, the best place to shop is the local boulangerie. That’s right, the bakeries in France have and always will be a go-to among locals wanting to pick up a quality treat for their loved ones. The main difference is that you tend to see Easter hens, bells, bunnies and even shellfish (yes, you read it right – we’ll explain further down) in premium white, milk and dark chocolate in the pâtisseries and boulangeries. If you’re asked “c’est à offrir”, say “oui” and they will gift wrap it nicely in cellophane and ribbon so you have a lovely souvenir to bring home.
What’s the story with the chocolate shellfish?
La friture de Paques is the name for all the chocolate fish, crabs, shells and more that you’ll see everywhere in France. Since it’s a Catholic country, religious traditions play a big role in the festivals, and Easter is no different, with these little bites inspired by the Miraculous Catch of Fish in the bible.
Is there a Sunday roast?
Actually, this is where France and the UK have something in common! Just like our classic Easter lamb centrepiece, the French traditionally serve l’agneau pascal, a roasted leg of lamb in herbs or lemon served with flageolet beans as opposed to our vegetable sides. If you’re lucky enough to find a shop selling Alsatian produce whilst you’re studying French in Paris at ACCORD, make sure you pick up a lamala, a cute sponge cake baked in a lamb-shaped tin and dusted with icing sugar. You’d be baa-rmy to miss it!
Where are the egg hunts?
In the UK, there are egg hunts on various days throughout the Easter holidays before the main event in your garden at home on Easter Sunday. The same goes for France, although the “flying bells” have been known to bring Easter eggs to local parks on Easter Sunday itself. For example, there are egg hunts at the Parc du Château de Suresnes, Buttes Chaumont et Jardin d’Acclimatation to name but a few in Paris on Easter Sunday.
If you’d like to experience Easter in France for yourself on a study abroad trip to learn French in Paris, contact us on info@activelanguages.co.uk
Happy Easter!
