There’s much to admire in French culture. The French possess a keen appreciation of style and sophistication, along with possessing their own distinct aesthetic that stands them out from others.
France is known as a land of gourmet chefs and wine specialists, yet their long lunches or informal dinner parties often become platforms for political discourse. No subject is taboo!
Beaujolais Nouveau
Beaujolais Nouveau is an early release, fruit-forward wine made with Gamay grapes to commemorate harvest season’s end and often consumed young as part of celebrations and as an introduction to French wines for many people.
At midnight on the third Thursday in November, barrels of Beaujolais Nouveau pour out of sleepy villages across France and into Paris to be distributed throughout France and around the globe. Banners proclaiming its arrival proclaim its arrival:
As much as this tradition is seen as frivolous, its roots may actually lie in marketing. After all, it always occurs around Thanksgiving when many people drink red wine – an opportunity to quickly introduce lots of young wine into the market!
Saint Catherine’s Day
At one time, young single women who had reached 25 were known as Catherinettes and would pray to Saint Catherine to find them a suitable husband. Additionally, they would “coiffer” or cap her statue in church as a symbol of her wish to get married.
Today, Saint Catherine’s Day celebrations continue – but are more lighthearted. Catherinettes (unmarried women who remain unmarried) send postcards featuring Saint Catherine as patron saint and wear yellow and green hats designed specifically for them, to symbolise faith and wisdom. When reaching 25, 30 and beyond…they place one needle into their hats as reminders that time is ticking away – even more needles may be placed upon reaching 35 to represent lost hope of finding someone suitable!
April’s Fools
One common prank in France, Belgium and Italy as well as French-speaking areas of Canada and Switzerland is to place a paper fish behind someone without them noticing. This prank is known as poisson d’avril or “April Fools’ Fish.”
Many theories exist as to its history, with most experts agreeing it started during King Charles IX’s simplification of calendar by moving New Year’s from March 31 to January 1.
Many people did not receive the memo that April Fools Day had changed and continued celebrating as usual – giving rise to its name! Children take great joy in playing pranks on parents and teachers with this tradition while adults can also use this day to play jokes on media outlets or businesses.
Baguettes
When we think of French traditions, we may imagine lines forming outside their village’s boulangerie to buy fresh baguettes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. A baguette in France is typically long and narrow with an appearance similar to that of a stick or wand.
Unsurprisingly, the word “baguette” comes from French for baton or wand; its shape was first inspired by bakers from Vienna during the early 1800s.
France restaurants always include bread with every meal – usually in the form of a baguette – to complement it, often dunked into olive oil, butter or cheese before jam is spread on it. Baguettes are legally mandated and contain wheat flour, water yeast and salt as ingredients in their dough.
Weddings
Modern wedding ceremonies usually include toasts from both the best man and bridesmaids at each ceremony to honor and praise both partners in a marriage, while also protecting his honor. At receptions, guests offer congratulations to newlyweds.
Queen Victoria made white the standard bridal color as a symbolic sign of purity and virginity; today most brides also wear a veil instead of the gilt coronet used by Jewish and Roman brides to wear at their nuptials.
After the ceremony is completed, the groom removes his bride’s garter and tosses it amongst male wedding guests; whoever catches it will become eligible to marry next. This tradition serves as a variation on tossing rice or wheat to symbolize fertility and express his or her hopes for procreation.