Spring traditions

April 1st
In the old time, the civil year was starting on April 1st. Charles IX decided in 1561 to change it for January 1st. Some people did not accept the change and continued to celebrate April 1st. In order to make them look like fools, friends started to hang a paper fish in their back without them realizing it. Why fish? Some say because the date is close to Lent, others because it was forbidden to fish at that time since it is fish fry period.

Kids keep the traditions and people announced wrong news to each other. When your contact realizes it is a lie, you must shout “Poisson d’Avril” (April fish)! The media are perpetuating the tradition. One of the most astonishing news heard on TV was that Paris mayor had decided to move Eiffel Tower on the other bank. The funny thing is that there are always people not realizing that it is April 1st & a joke.

Easter
In France only Monday is a bank holiday, we work on Friday unlike other Europeans.


There are a lot of traditions around Easter, such as Feria in Nimes, Arles, … with bull fights.
Easter is the biggest fest in Vence.
On Saturday afternoon, there is folk festival.
During the night, kids decorate the street floors of the old city with designs made of flower petals.
   This is quite impressive to discover that in the morning.

On Sunday morning the main services is celebrated in Provencal and locals come in traditional attire. After the service, there is a special dance around a log which is performed in front of the cathedral. Then people are invited to a free aperitif where they can taste the traditional dishes such as pissaladiere (onion pie)… and orange or lemon wine.

In the afternoon, there is a flower decorated floats parade in the city.

On Monday there is another typically Provence service at the outskirts of the ramparts for celebrating the fight and victory against Protestants.

Another tradition for kids is to search for eggs in their garden. It used to be boiled eggs decorated by hand by our mothers. Now it is rather chocolate eggs.

The tradition is alive in North east of France where kids believe the eggs are brought in by the Easter Bunny, and in Provence where they think they are dropped by bells coming back from Roma. As you know bells do not ring between the death and the resurrection of the Christ. Our parents used to tell us that the bells were gone to Roma during this period.
May
There is a very vivid tradition on the first day of May. Men are supposed to present girls they love (Mom, wife, girlfriend…) with a bouquet of lilies. The fragile lily is the symbol of Spring’s victory over Winter. The tradition started in 1561 when Charles IX gave a sprig of lily as a lucky charm to each of the people he cared for.

On that day anybody can sell lilies without a license, so you will see plenty of people selling these flowers everywhere. They are supposed to collect it themselves but most of the lilies they sell are produced in Nantes (Brittany).

1st of May is also Labor Day in France and everything is closed.

In Provence, the entire month of May is full of festivities for celebrating the renewal of nature.

Nice has been reviving the tradition of family gathering in the public areas (park of Cimiez) for picnicking and enjoying free concerts each weekend.

Traditionally, engagements were set up in May. It was usual that fathers put a flower wrath on the doors of their house when they had a girl to marry. Weddings were not supposed to be held in May.

Each village used to select the highest tree of the village, cut it and erect a mast on the village main square. It was decorated with a wrath and 3 oranges that boys will try to get and bring to their fiancée.

Flowers festivals

Flowers and citrus were the main agricultural production in South Provence.

It is still the only one despite it has decreased a lot as selling grove land to promoters brings millions without sweat. Our cities still celebrate the gift of the soil which brought them prosperity.

Most famous festivals are the orange festival in Menton, the Violets festival in Tourette/Loup, the Jasmin festival in Grasse whose main industry is still essential oils and perfume factories, the Rose festival in Monaco…

Most local feasts are the opportunity for corsos where floats richly decorated with flowers and citrus parade through the city.

We have also lots of great gardens with exotic flowers as our climate allows their raising. You have a list on http://www.rivieraapt-activities.blogspot.com/