Joyeuses Paques!
In France, the first Monday after Easter (Lundi de Pâques) is a public holiday. And in some areas of France, bordering with Germany, Good Friday (Vendredi Saint), the last Friday before Lent, is also a non-working day.
This holiday brings a lot of joy to children. The Easter bunny (or hare) brings chocolate eggs to good children. And there is also a belief that chocolate eggs fall from the sky from the bell ringing that sounds on Easter.
In France, they do not pay much attention to decorating eggs, but chocolate eggs, hares, bells are sold everywhere. On the eve of Easter, parents hide them in the garden or at the threshold of the house (apartment), and the kids collect goodies in baskets in the morning.
| Joyeuses Paques! | Happy Easter! (literally - Happy Easter!) |
| Que mille joies se glissent dans vos coeurs dès les premiers instants de ce matin de Pâques et se perpétuent tout au long de l'année! | May the joyful light (lit. a thousand joys) penetrate your hearts with the first moments of this Holy Easter morning and remain throughout the year! |
| Aujourd'hui, on veut que vous sachiez qu'on pense très fort à vous et on vous souhaite bien du plaisir et de la joie où que vous soyez et quoi que vous fassiez. Joyeuses Paques! |
Today, we want you to know that we think of you and wish you joy and pleasure wherever you are and whatever you do. |
|
Meilleurs Voeux Paques |
Best Easter Wishes |
| Que ce panier de Pâques rempli de tendres voeux ajoute encore plus de joie à un jour déjà merveilleux! Joyeuses Paques! |
Let this Easter basket filled with tender wishes add even more joy to this wonderful day! Happy Easter! |
| On vous félicite pour la belle fête de Pâques. Pâques nous remplit d'espérance, de joie et de convivialité. On vous souhaite de célébrer cette fête en famille, avec des amis et des proches. Christ est ressuscite. | Congratulations on the bright holiday of Easter! Easter fills us with hope, joy and warmth. We wish you to celebrate this holiday with your family, friends and relatives. Christ is risen! |
| "Le printemps est la plus belle saison... C'est celle de Pâques et de la Résurrection." Puisse Pâques vous apporter paix et sérénité, et vous permettre de vous émerveiller devant le miracle de la vie. |
"Spring is the most beautiful time of the year ... It's also Easter and Sunday." May Easter bring you peace and tranquility, the opportunity to admire the miracle of life. |
| Du plaisir et des surprises pour égayer cette magnifique journée! Joyeuses Paques! |
I wish you joys and surprises to have fun on this magnificent day! Happy Easter! |
| Qu'il y ait, pour te combler, des moments doux, des moments tendres en cette journée et que la joie soit présente en tout et partout! Joyeuses Paques! |
May this day be filled with pleasant and tender moments and may joy be present in everything and everywhere! Happy Easter! |
| Ce petit lapin a un cadeau dans son panier. Et il s'en vient te le donner! Joyeuses Paques! |
This bunny has a gift in a basket. He brought it to you! Happy Easter! |
| En ce magnifique lundi, nous vous souhaitons une joyeuse fête de Pâques, Celebrons ensemble la resurrection du Christ, Prenez soin de vous nous vous embrassons tres fort, A tres bientot, amicalement |
On this magnificent Monday, we wish you a joyful Easter holiday, Let's celebrate together the resurrection of Christ, Take care of yourself, We kiss and hug you tightly, See you soon Your friends (lit. Friendly) |
| Vive la fête de Pâques, Vive le lundi de paques, Vive les cloches de paques, Vive les œufs de Paques, Et vive la famille et les gens que l'on aime! |
Long live Easter, Long live the Monday after Easter, Long live Easter bells Long live Easter eggs And, long live the family and the people we love! |
| J'espère que les lièvres de Pâques vont t'apporter des poules en chocolat et des oeufs colorés. Tu m'en garderas un petit peu, dis ? Non, je plaisante, tout est pour toi, mais prends ton temps pour les dévorer, sinon ton petit ventre va se plaindre. Joyeuses Pâques mon poussin! | I hope the Easter bunnies bring you chocolate roosters and colored eggs. Tell me, will you leave me some? I'm joking, everything is for you, but don't eat it all at once, otherwise your little tummy will hurt. Happy Easter my chicken! |
| As-tu remarque comme la nature se fait belle en ce moment? Elle se réveille après un long endormissement hivernal. A nous les petites fleurs et le beau soleil de printemps! Je te souhaite de Joyeuses Pâques et un bon regal de chocolat. Gross bisous |
Have you noticed how nature is prettier on this day? She wakes up after a long winter hibernation. For us, small flowers and beautiful spring sun! I wish you a Happy Easter and lots of chocolate. Kiss |
| Lorsque vient le joyeux temps de Pâques, nous pensons bien fort à tous ceux que nous aimons. Je vous souhaite de tout coeur de très joyeuses Pâques et vous embrasse bien fort. | When the joyful time of Easter comes, we think of those we love. I wish you a joyful Easter with all my heart and hug you tightly. |
| Un petit mot | Short |
| Joyeuses fêtes de Pâques et plein de bisous chocolatés!
De Bien Belles Pâques Cheri(e) |
First of all, it is important to note that the French are very fond of fun and holidays, so it is important for them to do everything at the highest level: beautiful, bright, memorable. All cities of the country become bright and colorful: streets, houses are decorated with bright ribbons, luminous festive garlands almost like on the eve of Christmas, and festive fairs are held a month before the holiday event. Fairs sell Easter colored eggs, souvenirs that are usually presented in the idea of roosters, hens or rabbits. Bells are the main attribute of the holiday and the fair tray.
As already mentioned, the French are Catholics in their majority, in second place are Muslims and only then Orthodox, so Easter is celebrated according to Catholic customs, slightly different from ours. On Easter night, all the French go to the service, which is called a festive mass, where they light a lot of candles from the Easter fire, then sing prayers in a singsong voice, read prophecies, and plunge into the font. On Easter Sunday itself, another Mass is held - Sunday, Easter Mass, where Jesus is glorified.
As you know, the French are a family people, and for them Easter is another family holiday with a beautiful feast, family exchange of gifts, communication with children. A feast is arranged with traditional prayers. On this day, the ringing of the bell can be heard everywhere, because it symbolizes the continuation of fun and life.
A little about traditions
The bells in France have been silent since Good Friday, which is considered mourning for Christ crucified on the Cross. When children ask about the silence of the bells, adults answer them that they flew to Rome, losing Easter eggs along the way. Then the children go outside to look at the sky, looking for bells, while the adults hide the chocolate eggs from the children. Upon their return, the children begin to look for them with the help of hints and leading questions, which makes everyone very happy.
In the old days, the children of the ecclesiastical province of Bos, during the Holy Week of the choir, went from house to house, sang hymns and handed out “pains à chanter” bread to the inhabitants, in return they were given colored eggs, and over time they were replaced with chocolate eggs and chocolate figurines and souvenirs.
In Holy Week, the bells are silent, according to legend, they fly to Rome to receive the blessing of the Pope.
Until the 12th century, only "commoners" gave painted eggs. They dyed them with natural dyes and handed them to each other, since there was no way to give something more valuable. Throughout Lent, there was an exchange of dyed chicken eggs. Aristocrats joined this tradition only at the end of the century.
From the 16th century, at the court of the king, a “surprise” was placed inside the egg, so the giver tried to show off his imagination.
Chocolate eggs were invented in the 18th century. The egg itself was blown out and chocolate was poured into it.
After the festive Easter service, the consecrated water was taken home, after which it could be presented along with other souvenirs.
Festive French Easter table
After the solemn Sunday mass in the temple, the French set a large family holiday table. The Easter dinner menu usually includes ordinary sorrel soup with the addition of potatoes and nettles, a lamb with some kind of sauce was always present on the table, in some provinces it was a goat or pork ham baked with herbs. There must be a salad, some of them, according to the old tradition, are prepared from fresh dandelions, homemade bread. Once upon a time, the primary dish on the table was precisely the omelet, but over time, a wide abundance of other dishes replaced it from the table. Fried chicken remains the main holiday dish. Nowadays, in some provinces, the French prefer to bake a meat pie, covering it with egg glaze, and symbolic figures baked from dough are also laid out around the pie.
As a sweet dessert, soufflé, meringues, chocolates and eggs were served, which are laid out in wicker nests among the candles.
Easter in France is associated with spring fun, holidays, goodies and free time spent with the whole family. For the French, this is very important, since they prefer to work actively on weekdays, to work, leaving their children to nannies, not to meet with their relatives, even with their soulmate they only see each other late in the evening or early in the morning. That is why they turn every holiday into a family holiday, resting with full soul. Join the Easter celebration, learn more, and if possible, visit France during Holy Week.
In this article, I would like to tell you about Easter in France and traditions of its celebration.
In 2015, for all Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox believers, the wonderful holiday of the Holy Resurrection of Christ - Easter - falls on April 5th.
However, all over the world this holiday is loved not only by believers, but also by many people who are not related to faith and religion, because Easter is both a religious holiday and a holiday of spring and renewal. In addition, this is a great occasion to gather family and friends together, and for children to arrange their favorite pastime - hunting for eggs!
The French are anxious about the Easter holiday, bells ring in cathedrals, festive masses are held, and in the week before Easter there are many events: exhibitions, seminars, conversations, installations of events in the life of Christ, joint prayers, etc.
But the French also appreciate the joyful spring mood in Easter, the opportunity to gather the whole family at the festive table, to see the joyful faces of children looking for colorful eggs and sweets in the garden. In France, it is customary to congratulate each other with postcards, treats, small symbolic gifts in the form of eggs, chickens, chickens, rabbits. Why? Let's find out...
The Religious Significance of Easter
Back in 325, the church cathedral of Nice set the time for celebrating Easter - on the first Sunday after the full moon, which was on the day of the vernal equinox on March 21, or immediately after this date. Easter usually falls on March 22nd. But, if the full moon falls on March 20, the next one will be on April 18 (29 days later). If that day is Sunday, Easter will be celebrated on April 25th. Thus, the Easter holiday fluctuates between March 22 and April 25, and all subsequent church dates depend on this date. Christians always celebrate this holiday on Sunday.
Easter is a particularly joyful day for all Christians, since on this day the resurrection of Jesus Christ took place. The word Easter comes from the Hebrew. "Pessach" (lit. "passing by") is a word that describes the Jewish holiday of the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. The bottom line is that the passion of Christ took place during the Passover holiday, which Jesus, being a Jew, celebrated with everyone. Some symbols of Easter are related to both holidays. For example, Easter lamb, yeast-free bread and an egg. Traditionally, this time is considered auspicious for baptism. The church also emphasizes that Christians should receive communion at least once a year on the celebration of Easter. Hence the French expression "faire ses pâques", which means to confess and take communion.
The last week of Great Lent, "Passion" or "Holy" week, is associated with Easter. At this time, divine services are performed in memory of the suffering and death of Christ, the theme of which is the earthly life of Jesus Christ, starting from his entry into Jerusalem. Every day of Holy Week is revered as "Great".
The first of them is the Feast of "Palm (Palm) Sunday", preceding Easter. On this day, it is customary to bless palm, olive, laurel, boxwood, willow branches in the church. Large branches are decorated with sweets, fruits, ribbons and presented to children. Consecrated branches are attached to the head of the bed, at crucifixes, hearths of fireplaces, in stalls. From Maundy Thursday until noon on Saturday, church organs and bells are silent. This is the period of the Easter Triduum (Triduum Paschalis) - Thursday, Friday and Saturday. In the evening on Great Saturday, the celebration of the great Triumph begins in all churches. After sunset, the first Easter Liturgy (Mass) of Easter is served - Easter candles are lit.
Easter traditions
Why an egg?
Even before the birth of Christ, the egg was already filled with deep meaning and there were traditions to give eggs in the spring. The fact is that in many cultures, the egg symbolizes the continuation of life and, of course, has always been considered a good omen. When the egg, as a symbol, was associated with the Easter holiday, the closeness of worldly and religious meanings became especially obvious - the promise, the continuation of life and the resurrection of Christ. In addition, the beautiful shape of the egg is a symbol of perfection.
The tradition of giving eggs is also associated with the prohibition of eating them during the entire fast, and eggs laid and collected during this period were boiled for preservation and decorated to be presented on Easter day. Before, when chocolate was still rare and expensive, getting such an egg as a gift for Easter was a real holiday for a child.
There are many legends about the origin of Easter eggs. According to one of the legends, Saint Mary Magdalene came to Rome with the good news of the resurrection of Christ. She gave the emperor an egg with the words "Christ is risen!". But the emperor replied that it was impossible, just as it was impossible for a white egg to turn red. Before he could finish, the egg turned red.
The egg is, of course, a symbol of fertility. French kings each year received the largest egg that has ever been laid in the kingdom. Since the 12th century, eggs have been consecrated in churches, and the King of France himself distributed the consecrated eggs after Easter Mass.
Bunnies and bells bring... chocolate!
Nowadays, to the great delight of children and gourmets, chocolate eggs are more often given to each other than ordinary decorated ones. Chocolate sweets can also be shaped like bells and bunnies. Legend has it that on Easter Sunday, the bells, which have been silent since Holy Thursday, seem to fly to Rome for this time and now return from their pilgrimage and scatter sweets over gardens and parks.
In many European countries, a rabbit that brings Easter eggs has become a popular Easter character. The explanation for this goes deep into paganism. According to legend, the pagan goddess of spring Estra turned the bird into a hare, but he continued to lay eggs. Another explanation for this phenomenon is more mundane - when children went to collect eggs from the chicken coop on Easter morning, they often found rabbits nearby. So it turned out that eggs were brought not only by hens, but also by rabbits.
On the eve of Easter, children make nests and baskets with soft bedding for rabbits to lay beautiful eggs and sweets there.
If there are children among your friends, prepare a fun egg hunt for them in the garden or at home! You need to hide the eggs and goodies in the house in advance, and prepare a basket for the baby by the bed to collect them. It is better to keep the treats small, but in larger quantities, so that the game stays interesting for longer. And on this day, perhaps, you can allow children to eat chocolate for breakfast - they will be so happy!
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Also, a great pastime for children will be decorating Easter eggs on their own - they can be painted with anything, pasted over or sculpted, boiled in paint, hung on a thread as a decoration, and you can think of a lot more - use the imagination or experience of other people.
Easter decorations
It is worth walking through the streets of any French city 2-3 weeks before Easter and it will become clear how big a holiday this is for the French. Shop windows and culinary shops abound with all sorts of sweets and decorations in the form of eggs, rabbits, bells, chickens, chickens, flowers and images of saints. Houses, windows and doors are also decorated - there are many flowers and Easter symbols everywhere.
Traditionally, the French family gathers at the table on this day and Easter dishes are also festive. Decorating the table for Easter is not so difficult, because it is easy to use spring gifts for this: willow branches, the first flowers, and the French even use moss. You can also add Easter symbols - pre-emptied and painted chicken eggs, candles in the shape of chickens and bells, small nests made of branches filled with moss and eggs.
Easter table
As for culinary customs, traditionally the main place on the festive table is given to lamb, which is often served with white beans. Leg of lamb can be cooked in different ways: with a salt crust, fried with thyme or rosemary. The lamb on the Easter table is not at all an accident, because the lamb, with its innocence and humility, symbolizes the sacrifice that Christ made for us. In addition, it is at this time that the lamb is the most accessible. Also (imagine!) the French offer to add something unusual to the holiday and cook for dessert a delicious Orthodox pie called “Easter cake”!
But in the largest quantity on this day you will see chocolate on the tables and in the bakery windows. Literally everything related to Easter is made from it.
On this day in France, congratulations “Joyeuse Pâques!” - Happy easter!
French Easter Dictionary:
la fête de Pâques- Easter
Le Dimanche des Rameau x - Palm Sunday
la Passion du Seigneur- Passion of the Lord
la Resurrection du Christ- the resurrection of Christ
la Semaine Sainte– Holy (Holy) week
le careme- post
se confesser and communier- confession and communion
la chasse aux oeufs- hunting for eggs
Partially used information from the website of the Ivanovo Regional Library for Children and Youth. Thank you!
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Extra-curricular event in French on the topic: "Easter"
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Pâques est une fête catholique tres populaire en France. Au jour de pâques des messes et des processions religieuses se passent partout. Pâques est aussi un jour de joie qui réunit les familles et les amis. Ce jour-là on profite de ce moment de fête pour savourer des plats savoureux et bien sûr, beaucoup de chocolats. Paques
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Easter Easter is a very popular Catholic holiday in France. On Easter Day, masses and religious processions take place everywhere. Easter is also a day of joy that brings families and friends together. On this day, they take advantage of the festive moment to savor delicious dishes and, of course, eat a lot of chocolate bars.
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Pâques "Pâques" signifie "passage": c'est le passage de la mort à la Vie, par lequel l'Homme a été sauvé du péché par le Christ et a été appelé à la vie éternelle. La Resurrection du Christ est la réalisations des paroles/promesses que Dieu a faites à son peuple. Etymologically, "Easter" means "coming": by this passage from death to life, Christ saved Man from sin and called him to eternal life. The resurrection of Christ is the fulfillment of the promises made by God to his people La résurrection du Christ.
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la semaine Sainte Holy Week Avant le jour de Pâques c'est la semaine Sainte. Le dimanche des Rameaux est le début de La Semaine Sainte (on célèbre l'entrée solennelle du Christ à Jérusalem), comprend le jeudi Saint (on célèbre l'institution de l'Eucharistie et du Sacerdoce par le Christ) et le vendredi Saint ( on celebre la Passion du Christ et sa mort sur la croix). Elle finit avec la veillée pascale, lors de la nuit du samedi Saint au dimanche de Pâques (résurrection du Christ). The week before Easter is Holy Week. Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday (commemoration of Christ's solemn entry into Jerusalem), includes Maundy Thursday (commemoration of the establishment of the Eucharist and the Clergy by Christ) and Good Friday (commemoration of the Passion of Christ and his death on the cross). It ends on Easter night, the night from Holy Saturday to Easter Sunday (the resurrection of Christ).
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Le vendredi saint Quoique dans beaucoup d'autres pays, et à part dans quelques régions françaises et d'Outre-mer, le Vendredi saint soit un jour férié, en France le seul jour férié durant les fêtes de Pâques reste le Lundi de Pâques. Mais les réjouissances et les fêtes de Pâques se déroulent au temps des vacances scolaires; alors les enfants profitent de leur temps pour avaler des chocolats. Contrary to a large number of other countries, in particular in several French and overseas regions, it is not a public holiday. The only day off during the Easter holidays is the Monday after Easter. But the feast of Easter usually coincides with the school holidays; thus the children have even more time to eat chocolate bars. Good Friday
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le dimanche Pâques sont célébrés le dimanche dont la date varie dans le calendrier grégorien entre le 22 mars et le 25 avril. Du jour de Pâques dépendent les dates des telles fêtes, comme le lundi de Pâques, l'Ascension, la Pentecôte, le lundi de Pentecôte. Easter is celebrated on one of the Sundays, according to the Gregorian calendar, between March 22 and April 25, the date changes every year. Other holidays depend on Easter, such as Monday after Easter, Ascension, Pentecost, Trinity Day.
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le symbole de Pâques Les oeufs de Pâques Easter symbols Easter eggs L’oeuf de Pâques est le symbole de l’éclosion d’une vie nouvelle et de la fertilité Donner des oeufs en cadeau à Pâques est une tradition installée depuis des centaines d'années. C'est réellement à partir du XIIIe siècle que les premiers oeufs peints firent leur apparition en Europe. Aujourd'hui, les oeufs de Pâques sont en chocolat. Cette tradition est relativement recente. Les friandises en chocolat peuvent également prendre la forme de cloches et de lapins. Easter eggs The Easter egg is a symbol of new life and fertility. Giving eggs for Easter is a tradition that has been established for several hundred years. The first colored eggs appeared in Europe in the 13th century. Today, Easter eggs are made from chocolate. This is a relatively recent tradition. Chocolate sweets can also take the form of bluebells and bunnies.
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Les oeufs de Pâques Easter eggs Les œufs pondus pendant cette période étaient alors conservés après cuisson et décorés pour être offerts le jour de Pâques. Autrefois, à une époque où le chocolat était encore une denrée rare, c'était un régal d'œufs durs qui était offert aux enfants le jour de Pâques. The tradition of giving eggs at Easter also comes from the ban on eating eggs during Lent. Eggs laid during this period were boiled and preserved, decorated to be presented at Easter. Before, when chocolate was still a rare treat, hard-boiled eggs were presented to children at Easter.
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Le lapin en chocolat Chocolate Bunny Cette tradition du lapin en chocolat vient d'une vieille tradition populaire qui dit qu'à Pâques, c'est au tour des lapins de couver les oeufs ! Chocolate Bunny The tradition of chocolate bunnies comes from an ancient legend that it is the bunnies that lay eggs at Easter!
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l'agneau pascal Easter lamb France il y a aussi le fameux lièvre/lapin Pascal qui amène à tous (même aux adultes; il n'y a pas d'âge pour être gourmand!) de nombreux chocolats. Commes les français sont très gourmands, il n'y a pas seulement les œufs en chocolat que l'on demande comme une chose indispensable à Pâques, mais aussi les poissons en chocolat (en référence au poisson d'avril du 1er avril) et bien entendu les cloches en chocolat. I believe that the most significant moments of Easter, especially for children, are endless meals with numerous dishes, namely the Passover lamb. But above all, Easter wouldn't be Easter without chocolate. In France, there is also a wonderful Easter Bunny, which brings everyone (even adults; besides, the gourmet knows no age!) Numerous chocolate bars. Since the French are great gourmets, in addition to chocolate eggs, which are always present on Easter day, there are also chocolate fish (for an April Fool's joke on April 1st) and of course chocolate bells in chocolate.
