Noël en France

To learn about Christmas in France click HERE

25 FUNNY FRENCH ONOMATOPOEIA THAT WILL MAKE YOU LOL

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May Day traditions in France

May Day in France is all about two things: muguet, pronounced "moo-gay" (lily of the valley in English) and Labour Day. On the 1st of May friends and family offer each other little sprigs, bouquets or whole plants of lily of the valley for good luck.  The more little bell-like flowers the plant has, the better the luck.  This day is pretty much the only public holiday where just about everything is closed.  It really is a day off for workers.

Mardi Gras  The Mardi Gras celebration is an annual religious celebration that was added to the Gregorian calendar in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII. Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, is the day before Ash Wednesday each year. It has also been known as Shrove Tuesday, and it marks the beginning of Lent, which is the 40 day period of fasting prior to Easter. Mardi Gras celebrations are held in different cities all around the world. In the United States Mardi Gras is most famously celebrated in New Orleans. Mardi Gras celebrations traditionally include parades, masked balls, and indulgence in food and alcohol. It is the last day for people to celebrate before beginning Lent and the restrictions imposed by the church.

Interesting Mardi Gras Facts:

Mardi Gras began as an extravagant celebration for Christians in Europe. It reached North America in the early 18th century.

Many countries celebrate Mardi Gras as the last day of the Carnival season.

Other names for Mardi Gras include Martes de Carnaval (in Mexico), Karneval (Germany), J'Ouvert (Trinidad), Fastan (Sweden), and Martedi Grasso (Italy).

A French Cajun phrase for Mardi Gras is ‘Laissez les bons temps rouler', which means ‘Let the good times roll'.

Some countries celebrate Mardi Gras as ‘Pancake Day', and indulge in eating pancakes. Ireland, Australia, England, Canada and New Zealand celebrate Pancake Day.

Purple, gold and green and the official colors of Mardi Gras. Purple is meant to signify justice, gold is meant to signify power and green signifies faith.

The first Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans took place in 1837.

The first floats in the parades in New Orleans Mardi Gras appeared in 1857.

The clubs that hold parades or balls at Mardi Gras are called Krewes.

In 1872 the tradition of naming kings and queens began when the Russian grand duke visited New Orleans Mardi Gras and a royal reception was held for him. The grand duke's royal colors were purple, gold and green, which became Mardi Gras' official colors.

Millions of colored beaded necklaces are thrown from floats at Mardi Gras.

When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in August 2005 it was believed that Mardi Gras would be cancelled the following year. It was decided that Mardi Gras would go on.

The French Quarter in New Orleans was mostly undamaged in Hurricane Katrina.

Masquerades and feasts are a big part of Mardi Gras. The ancient Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Lupercalia also featured feasts and masquerades.

The first American city to hold a parade for Mardi Gras was Mobile, Alabama.

One of the biggest Mardi Gras celebrations in the U.S. is held in Galveston, Texas.

In 1875 Louisiana named Mardi Gras a state holiday. Today is also a state holiday in Alabama and Florida.

Rio de Janeiro hosts one of the world's largest Mardi Gras celebrations in the world.

It is illegal to ride a Mardi Gras float in New Orleans if you're not wearing a mask. This law came into effect to allow people to associate with anyone they wanted to, without social barriers.

Source from: http://www.softschools.com/facts/holidays/mardi_gras_facts/854/

Valentine's Day in France

10 Valentine’s Day Traditions All Around the World

Joyeux Noël

Happy Halloween!

La Saint Valentin!

Le 14 février, c’est La Saint Valentin, la fête de l’amour et des amoureux. Careful though – unlike English cultures, Valentine’s Day in France is only for people “in” love, not just loving/friendship gestures.

In France, school children do not give a Valentine to all their friends and family. If they have a special “love” interest (un amoureux, une amoureuse) and if they are not shy, they might, but it’s quite different from the US on this aspect.

Otherwise, Valentine’s Day in France is celebrated a bit like it is in the rest of the world – chocolates, roses, jewels for the wealthiest…a romantic restaurant or evening…Sometimes a card, but much less than in English cultures and again, only for romantic interests.

So, don’t go about sending all your French friends a friendly Valentine’s Day card, they may get the wrong impression!

The verb AIMER means a lot of things in French: to like, to enjoy, to love, as well as to be in love. It is very important that you know how to use it correctly so you avoid embarrassing mistakes. For example:

1.     To say to like or enjoy something or someone, use the verb AIMER with an adverb.

-       J’aime bien Mary - I like Mary (“like” for friendship)

-       J’amie beaucoup  Mary – I like Mary a lot ( friendship)

-       Je t’aime bien – I like you

2.    When you use the construction AIMER + person’s name, without any adverb, it means you are in love with that person.

-       J’aime Mary – I am in love with Mary (love)

-       Je ne t’aime pas – I am not in love with you

EXCEPTION

You can use AIMER without an adverb with your immediate family (parents, siblings, children, pets) to say that you love them, but NEVER with your friends.

Contrast:

Je l‘aime – I’m in love with him/her

Je l’aime bien – I like him/her

French Love Vocabulary

·      L’amour – love

·      L’amitié – friendship

·      Je t’aime – I live you (using tu)

·      Je vous aime – I am in love with you (using vous)

·      Je l’aime – I am in love with him/her

·      Je suis amoureux / amoureuse de toi, lui, elle, vous…- I am in love with you, him, her, you

·      Tomber amoureux / amoureuse – to fall in love (not tomber en amour which is used in Canadian French but not in France)

·      Est-ce que tu veux sortir avec moi? – would you like to go out with me

·      A kiss – un baiser, un bisou

·      To kiss – embrasser, s’embrasser

·      Les fiancailles – engagement

·      Se fiancer – to get engaged

·      Un fiancé / une fiancée – someone you are engaged to

·      Joyeuse Saint Valentin – Happy Valentine’s Day

·      Tu veux etre mon valentine / ma valentine? Would you be my valentine?

French Love Nicknames

As in other languages, French has its own little words or names to call a love one.

·      Mon amour – my love

·      Mon ange – my angel

·      Mon trésor – my treasure

·      Mon coeur – my heart

·      Mon chou – my sweet bun (Un chou a la crème is a cream filled pastry) – “mon petit chou” is also quite common

·      Mon lapin – my rabbit

·      Mon poussin – my chick

·      Mon chéri / Ma chérie – my darling

Joyeuse Saint Valentin!!!