French culture is widely revered for its sophistication and style. Additionally, French society places strong importance on equality as part of their national motto “Liberte Egalite Fraternite.”
Though you might not see it at your table, our tours include breakfast in hotels with delicious cheese options as part of their inclusion package and dessert after dinner is always customary!
Bastille Day
French citizens commemorate Bastille Day (or le 14 juillet) every July 14 to remember the storming of the Bastille, a medieval fortress used as a prison symbolizing absolute power under King Louis XIV. Anger at poor harvests and oppressive taxes led a mob, angry with King, to attack it to seize ammunition, gunpowder and free prisoners – starting an eventual revolution that eventually led to freedom, equality and brotherhood for all citizens.
Today, France marks this annual event by holding the world’s largest military parade on Champ de Elysees since 1880 (except during World War II 1940-1944 and 2020 due to COVID-20 pandemic ). While impressive, most French people project their own interpretation of what this day represents onto it: they may feel an increase of patriotism or simply enjoy free entertainment and time off work while eating picnic food with family and watching fireworks go off overhead.
April’s Fools
April 1 is traditionally designated for playing practical jokes on friends and acquaintances. People fooled are known as poissons d’avril (April fish). This name may refer to Eloy d’Amerval’s 1508 poem wherein he said fish caught during spring were more vulnerable.
Another theory holds that this tradition began in France during their transition from Julian calendar to Gregorian calendar in 16th Century, causing some not to accept its new year date of January 1; those who continued celebrating Easter instead were known as pranksters.
On April 2, Tailie Day or “Lie Day”, people pranks can extend up until November when single women receive Saint Catherine’s hats in either green or yellow as a good luck charm in finding husbands.
St. Catherine’s Day
November 25 is Saint Catherine of Alexandria’s feast day. She was an elegant young woman executed by Roman Emperor Maxentius for refusing to marry him; during his torturous torture session on a spiked wheel milk instead of blood flowed from her wounds – leading him to proclaim her as virgin martyr status and making her one of the most influential saints for women today.
Medieval European traditions dictated that unmarried girls prayed for a husband on St Catherine’s Day while wearing an elegant green and yellow hat known as a Catherineette hat. At 25 they would stick a needle into their headdress to show they had already become spinsters; by 35 they would add another needle for good measure, symbolising permanent spinsterhood.
By the turn of the twentieth century, this tradition had all but vanished; however, in Paris it reemerged as a celebration for single women known as Catherinettes and hat makers; some rural areas still observe this festivity today.
Honking Cars
French people take great pride in the language, culture and traditions unique to their nation. Recognizing some of these eccentric or strange customs is essential in becoming fluent in French.
Honking is an often-practiced tradition in France. It serves to indicate changes in traffic flow or alert individuals of your approaching, celebrate occasions or show support for causes or politicians.
Honking should generally be avoided in urban areas as it’s considered rude and can create potentially dangerous situations. Instead, try beeping briefly instead to communicate your needs to others – this method also works when tailgating another driver; hopefully they’ll recognize they’re wrong and stop doing it; otherwise a ticket might await them!