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Tradition

Do French people celebrate their ‘main’ Christmas on December 24 or 25?

The Connexion undertook a brief survey to find out

Easter customs in France and ten related expressions

Gigot d’agneau, cloches de Pâques - find out what is eaten on Easter Sunday and who brings the eggs for the Easter egg hunt

La Chandeleur: February 2 is France’s national crêpe day

The tradition of eating crêpes on Candlemas is centuries old, although recipes and flavours vary across the country

magazine

Greeting kisses in France: 5 regional expressions

We look at different terms used for ‘ se faire la bise ’ - the kiss on each cheek which is one of the most widespread greetings in France

Which cheek? How many? The truth about bises in France

Website reveals regional differences for common form of greeting

Day 10 French regional Christmas specialities: Beerawecka from Alsace

This needs to be baked days ahead if you want it on your table for Christmas

Paris’s ‘Love Lock Bridge’ closed for repairs but won’t deter couples

Pont des Arts, which once partially collapsed under the weight of padlocks, is to have rotten planks replaced in the latest chapter of its fascinating history

French mountain farmers keep herding and hospitality traditions alive

Culture of transhumance, good food and accommodation is passed down the generations of farmers, known as marcaires

Silk workers weave a spell on Lyon’s shoppers and tourists

We talk to the current generation running one of Lyon’s oldest silk workshops

French choral revival hits all the right notes

The coronation of King Charles III highlighted the rich choral music tradition in the UK

French renovation: Why bricks don’t deserve ‘second best’ reputation

Nick Inman argues that primitive mudbrick constructions could find a new fan base among people looking for more environmentally friendly building practices

Producers stoic as French cheeses fail to make new global top 10 list

France’s proud cheesemaking tradition peaked at just 13th with Reblochon, falling some way behind the dominant Italian classics and one Mexican favourite

Straight to the (needle) point in Alençon, France

We unpick the history of the Queen of Lace and Lace of Queens in Alençon

France’s galette des rois: Six facts about this January 6 cake

Epiphany marks the occasion that the Three Kings brought their gifts to the baby Jesus. We look at how France celebrates with a special sweet treat

New Year Etrennes in France: How much money should you give?

With New Year celebrations on the way, the French tradition of “étrennes” – the giving of envelopes of money to essential workers who make life easier – is also approaching. But how much should you offer?

Behind Provence’s famous traditional festive figurines

Camille Renoux discusses the tradition of santons in Provence, and the firm that was founded by her grandfather

A brief tour of France’s seasonal crèches and markets

Even though Christmas 2020 in France will be an unusual one, seasonal specialities will still continue where possible

Uncertain future for historic Ile-de-France allotments

Expanding Paris is threatening gardens which, for over a century, have been oases of green, reports Mike Diliën

Brittany: Homebuyers sign contracts accepting country life

A new clause in contracts for homebuyers in Morbihan confirms they will accept the sights, sounds and smells of country life

Southern French village cancels all future bullfight events

The decision in the village of Vergèze in the Gard comes after a bull escaped during the annual festival last year

French MP proposes replacing hunt animals with robot copies

Robots could mimic animal behaviour and replace deer and rabbits in hunts to “end animal cruelty,” says MP Damien Adam, a member of President Macron's party.

Bordeaux: Mayor cancels Christmas trees in city

The ecologically-minded mayor will not decorate Bordeaux with “dead trees” this festive season, he has said, claiming they go against his “concept of re-vegetation” for the city.

Foire aux Vins: Extra discounts on French wine due to Covid

The autumn wine fair lasts seven weeks in September and October. Heavy discounts are expected this year as a result of the Covid-19 crisis.

Mont d’Or cheese on sale in France from tomorrow

The season for eating Mont d’Or cheese starts on September 10. We take a look at the history of this French speciality.

Non! We French shouldn't have to kiss everyone we meet

French-British journalist Samantha David argues la bise for all should be consigned to history.

Graffiti artist brightens French streets with tile art

A French street artist is brightening up the streets of Rouen (Seine-Maritime, Normandy) by painting tile-like traditional designs onto pavements, to make them “more charming” than the usual concrete.

The history behind Provence's classic sweet treat: calissons

Calissons are very popular sweet treats from Provence. Connexion speaks to a notable producer of these oval-shaped, almond-based beauties.

Still life: On-the-road with a trade of France past

We meet one of a rare, dying breed of travelling distillers – or bouilleur de cru – who are licensed to make moonshine from other people’s garden produce

Kissing: even the French get it wrong!

Stiff upper lip is no match for the problem of the bise

France celebrates with traditional galette des rois

It is galette des rois season in France, as the country marks Epiphany on January 6, and bakers compete to make the best, most original versions of the popular patisserie.

French village is a real-life Advent calendar

Each year a tiny village turns itself into a real-life Advent calendar, with residents opening their doors on a different evening from December 1 to 24 to welcome visitors with drinks and snacks.

Père Noel and La Poste launch annual letter service

He promises to send a reply to letters received before December 17... after that he'll be a bit busy

Toussaint traditions strong even as grave visits fall

Figures show number of young people visiting cemeteries is declining, but sales of traditional flowers remains high

Panto is now twice the fun - oh yes it is!

Animal rights groups hit back as MPs attend bullfight

Animal rights groups have hit back and reignited a debate over the legality of bullfighting in France after two ministers were seen attending a bullfight in the south of the country.

July 14’s military parade: out of date or respectful?

Every July 14, France’s military parade rolls down the Champs-Elysées while jets streak the sky with the colours of the ‘tricolore’.

New name if you take French citizenship

People taking French citizenship will be given a new French first name “to show they really want to be French” under a proposal by a right-wing MP.

Villagers up with the lark for Noël des oiseaux

Residents of one Grand Est village miss out on their lie-in on December 26 for a special local tradition

French constitution to include environment protection

Protecting the environment is set to become part of the constitution after MPs voted in favour of the move.

Less speed, more taste behind Slow Food trend

Every edition we assess an aspect of the French zeitgeist. This month: the movement for values in food sourcing, by Jane Hanks

Meet Cyril Genet: a French silk-maker from Lyon

Jane Hanks talks to Lyon silk-maker Cyril Genet about the city’s heritage in the print industry and the skills required to make luxury goods

Make sense of... French Christmas traditions

Le Père Nöel is known to all French children but in parts of the country he is still rivalled by his ancestor Saint Nicolas.

Limoges porcelain set gifted to new royal baby

A set of traditional porcelain pottery from Limoges has been gifted to the British ambassador to France, who is set to present it to the newest British royal baby, Prince Louis of Cambridge.

Macron backs the baguette for World Heritage Status

The baguette could soon be granted Unesco World Heritage Status, as President Emmanuel Macron has lent his support to a bakers’ campaign to recognise the bread as a national symbol.

Mayor says she will no longer do the ‘bise’

She admits to arriving late for meetings so that she can avoid kissing all 73 of her colleagues

Raising a glass to the language of intoxication

Language notes on the French art of drinking

Sandy grave helps wine keeps its freshness

Vignerons bury barrels under sand in a return to tradition when they sold thousands of bottles to England

I'm dreaming of a French Christmas | Emily Commander

NODDY Holder bellowing ‘It’s Christmas!’ in every shop, boisterous office parties, carols on the doorstep and turkey with all the trimmings – memories of a traditional British Christmas will always invoke strong emotions for those who have moved to France.