Easter Traditions in France

Easter Traditions in France

I was slightly nonplussed when asked to write about Easter in France as I have never experienced one, so guess where I turned to? Yes, good old Google. I knew the celebrations would be family orientated as the French really go to town for their celebrations. I also expected there to be lamb and lashings of chocolate, not too sure about hot cross buns but we will see what we can find out. A journey into the unknown is about to begin.

Easter is called ‘Paques’ in French, which comes from the Latin word ‘pascua’ meaning food, and ‘joyeuese Paques’ is the t raditional Easter greeting. The French don’t have an Easter bunny delivering the eggs and chocolate treats but, wait for it, flying bells.

I was quite confused, but on delving deeper I discovered the story behind the traditional flying bells. On Maundy Thursday, the bells are silenced throughout France and kept silent on Good Friday to remember Jesus being crucified and dying on the cross. The story of the flying bells was used to explain to children why the bells weren’t ringing, they are told that the bells sprouted wings to fly to Rome for the Pope to bless them. The Pope presents the bells with

chocolate eggs and on Easter Sunday the chocolate bells fly home to France, on their way home they drop chocolate treats and the children hunt for them. No self-respecting chocolatier would miss the opportunity to display their fabulous chocolate eggs, bells, fish etc. The displays are always a fabulous sight with shops vying to outdo the competition. Alongside the usual eggs would be intricately decorated chocolates, perhaps more suited for the adults.

‘Elephant ears’, yes, you did read that correctly, are a very popular Easter pastry. They are cinnamon palmiers, also sometimes known as ‘pig’s ears’. I love a crispy palmier but have normally had cheese flavoured ones so I am definitely going to look for these when next in France. Don’t they look delicious?

Lamb is normally eaten on Easter Sunday, cooked slowly in the oven with Provençal herbs, cumin, garlic and olive oil. This can be served with oven-baked potatoes such a pommes dauphinois, green beans or flageolet beans.

No mint sauce in sight! Asparagus is also just coming into season and might be served as an accompaniment or starter.

each other and they toss raw eggs, ‘un oeuvre cru’, to each other, whoever drops the egg is out. The winners of ‘le lancer d’oeufs’ are the pair whose egg is still intact and folklore states they will have good luck.

Different areas of France have different delicacies on offer; in Vendee you might find ‘la gache de Paques’ an oval brioche. In Corsica ‘une couronne’ a pastry crown with hard-boiled eggs on top, each egg has a pastry cross on it too. Charente has a biscuit shaped in a triangle with a hole in it, you might spot a pastry version filled with cream. In Provence the offering will be ‘la couve’, a sweet bird nest decorated with chicks and eggs.

Easter egg hunts or ‘chases aux oeufs’ take place in most villages, children hunting for chocolate and decorated eggs hidden by the adults. Can you imagine the sugar highs for these lucky children? There are also egg rolling competitions where real eggs, not sure if they are raw or hard boiled, are rolled downhill or pushed over lawns with sticks, first one to the bottom of the hill or end of the lawn wins. I also read about egg dancing, everyone dances amongst raw eggs, keeping them undamaged. Sometimes the dancers might be blindfolded too, just to make the task more difficult. There is also the game of catch, two teams face

However you celebrate, whatever you eat, whatever games you play, have a ‘joyeuses Paques’. And no, I didn’t find any references to hot cross buns sadly, or Simnel cakes. But if you know anyone called Pascal or Pascale the chances are they were born at or near Easter!

Di Xx