If you would like to understand the the why and how behind many French holidays and traditions, you might like my book. In it you’ll learn:

– Why French people have paper fish taped on their backs on April 1st

– How the Bastille was really taken down

– Who collects baby teeth from under French childrens’ pillows

– And much more… 

France  INDEX

 Have a look at this index for articles about France, or click on the dropdown tabs in the menu bar.

*Note: Articles about the city of Nice, France have been moved to a separate tab.

History

• The Murphys, American Trendsetters on the Riviera – We have the Americans to thank for summer tourism.
• French Jazz Fans outsmart Hitler – Jazz enthusiasts go to great lengths during WWII to be able to listen to Jazz.
• Pierre the Patriot – The man in charge of taking down the Bastille.
• Who Wants to be a Bank Robber? – The Sewer Gang pulls off the heist of the century.
• The Mad Farter – A not-so-classy act at the Moulin Rouge.
• Bread Delivery: Les Porteuses de Pain – An old fashioned bread delivery system.
• Marianne, Changing Face of the French Republic – See how Marianne has changed over the years.
• Bob was a Woman of Many Talents – Dancer, lion tamer, elopement specialist…
• The King is no Match for the Women of Paris – How these women put the King in his place.
• God Save the Royal Derriere – Discover the French origins of the British National Anthem.
• Marie Antoinette’s Cats and an American Rescue Attempt – Did the Queen of France almost escape to the US? Did her cats?
• First Thanksgivings, Huguenots, and Alligators – Could the first Thanksgiving in America have been French?
• Marie Antoinette’s Adopted Children – Discover the ill-fated Queen’s soft spot for children.
• Crazy Calendar of a Revolutionary Republic – Did you know France changed the calendar during their Revolution?
• The Pennsylvania French – You may have heard of the Pennsylvania Dutch, but what about the Pennsylvania French?
• Madame Tussaud – How she survived the French Revolution and started an entertainment empire.
• 3 Useful French Inventions – How the French made our life easier.
• Gaspard de Besse – The French Robin Hood.
• The Camargue: Horses, Bulls, Gardians – The legend of this unusual part of France.

Festivals / Holidays

• Carnival Kings, Silly Strings, and Blooming Things – The Nice Carnival has a long history.
• Menton, France Celebrates the Lemon – A colourful winter citrus festival.
• May First and the Spirit of Labor Day – The origins of the tradition of giving a lily of the valley flower on May first.
• April Fool or April Fish? – Why is it that in France an April Fool’s joke is an April Fish?
• American Easter Bunny vs French Easter Bell – Who delivers your Easter eggs?
• St Nicholas… Santa Claus… Père Noël – History of Father Christmas.
• An Accidental Tourist at the Festival of Avignon – French theatre festival.
• Mistletoe and a Flying Donkey – The word “gui” has two meanings.
• Father Whipper: St Nick’s Evil Helper – Who is that sinister man who follow St Nick around?

Art / Architecture

• Madame Liberté – Lady Liberty’s French past.
• Cats of La Romieu – The abundance of cats in this French village are no problem at all.
• The Man who Sold the Eiffel Tower – Find out how he did it.
• 5 Riviera Cocteau Treasures – Jean Cocteau left some amazing art to discover along the Riviera.
• A Saint, A Convict, and a Gargoyle – Find out why gargoyles decorate French Gothic churches.
• Good King René and His Fountain – This fountain in Aix-en-Provence caused quite a stir when it was unveiled in 1923.

Food

• Thirteen Desserts?  That’s my kind of Meal! – Christmas dinner traditions in the south of France.
• The King Cake holds a Surprise – The history of the special January cake.
• Truffle hunting in Provence – A day out learning about a delicious fungus.
• History of the Baguette – Legends and Laws that shaped the loaves.
• Bread Delivery: Les Porteuses de Pain – An old fashioned bread delivery system.
• Bread and Bad Luck – History behind this bread superstition.

Culture / Language

• It Pays to be Polite in France – Be sure to mind your manners while in France.
• French Class – Learning to speak French.
• The Little Saints of Provence – A charming Christmas tradition from Provence that spills over to the French Riviera.
• A Girl called Fanny that no one wants to Kiss – This girl plays an important role in the game of pétanque.
• French Expressions pop up in the Park – Sayings illlustrated by photos of Parc Phoenix in Nice, France.
• Tooth Fairy vs Little Tooth Mouse – Who picks up lost baby teeth in France?
• Shakespeare and Company – An amazing Parisian bookstore with a long history of hospitality.
• Polite Paris – Is Paris becoming more polite or is it just seasonal?
• Mayday! Mayday – See some examples of how the French and English languages have intermingled.
• French Beret: A Hat with Attitude – Learn the history of this iconic cap.
• Berets, Onions, and Stereotypes – How did the beret become part of the French image?
• St Martha and the Tarasque in Provence – How a saint tamed a dragon who was terrorising the city.
• Tartarin of Tarascon – Lovable lion hunter of Provence.
• The Cicada of Provence – Why this noisy insect came to Provence.
• The Mistral of Provence – The legend of the mistral wind.
• Secret Language of Cypress Trees – Do these trees have a secret meaning?
• Singing About the Avignon Bridge – Sur le Pont d’Avignon.

Housing

Some of our experiences with apartments in France.

• Renting a French Apartment – Who knew it could be so complicated?
• No Kitchen? It’s Perfect – We found the perfect apartment but there was one thing missing.
• What do you mean, you can’t bring it inside? – Learning about delivery terminology.
• Farewell to a French Apartment – Saying goodbye to our old apartment but happy to move on.