Traditions

The term "French Traditions" signifies the customs or practices that have been passed on from many generations. There are several traditions during French holidays as well as important social events. Namely,
* Beheading bottles of Champagne at weddings
* Puppet shows on Christmas eve
* Flying Bells leaving Easter Eggs
* Parades and fireworks on Bastille Day

Beheading Bottles of Champagne

A tradition that is popular is "beheading" bottles of champagne using a custom-made saber. The tradition originated in the time of Napoleon when the Hussards under the famous general's command began celebrating victories by swinging a sabre and thus neatly slicing the top off a champagne bottle. According to legend, the Hussards, skilled cavalry, would ride up at full gallop to one of the ladies holding up the bottle and with one swipe, behead the bottle. This tradition is commonly practiced at weddings.

Christmas

Holding a puppet show on Christmas eve is very common and at midnight, people attend church for the traditional Christmas Mass.

After the mass, they have a Christmas Eve dinner called le Réveillon which means to wake up or revive, alluding to the birth of Christ. Menus for this occasion change according to the region you are in but will usually consist of dishes containing turkey, capon, goose, chicken, and boudin blanc.

Children wait for Père Noël (Santa Clause) and leave their shoes out in front of the fireplace, doping presents will fill them by morning. The tree is hung with nuts and candy. Children also believe in Père Fouettard who hands out spankings for anyone who's been naughty.

Easter

Easter is called Pâques in France. This is a very important time for the French, who have a strong Christian and Catholic background. According to tradition, no church bells are rung on the Thursday before Good Friday and remain silent for several days, until on Easter Sunday, they revive. As the bells toll, the custom is for people to hug and kiss each other on the cheek.

The French believe that the Flying Bells from Easter leave on the Thursday before Good Friday, taking with them all the grief and misery of mourners of Christ's crucifixion. During easter, many French visit Rome to see the Pope and then come back on Easter Sunday morning. Then parents buy chocolate easter eggs and hide then around the house for children to find.

Poison d'Avril

This is the name used for the French Easter Fish and also comes in a chocolate version. An age-old tradition however, that dates back several centuries, involving the Poison d'Avril, takes place on April 1st. The great joke is for children to make fish of paper and pin as many as possible to the backs of adults, then run gleefully away yelling “Poison d'Avril!!”, which is a little like saying “April Fools!”

Bastille Day

Bastille Day (La Fête Nationale) is the French national holiday which is celebrated on 14 July yearly. The day commemorates the day The Bastille, a prison in Paris that was regarded as the symbol of the much-hated French monarchy of the times, was stormed and pillaged by angry mobs of French citizens in 1789. Many fireworks are set of as the day goes by, well into the night. Parades are also to be seen with dancing in the streets.

A video of Bastille Day celebration held in Paris 2008

Mardi Gras
Costumed musicians at a Mardi Gras celebration

Mardi Gras season refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after Epiphany and ending on the day before Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday" referring to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season, which started on Ash Wednesday.

On the Catholic calendar, Fat Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent, a period when sobriety and frugality need to be respected. In some places, including French Guyana, the whole period leading up to Mardi Gras has become a big party called Carnaval.

A video portraying a Mardi Gras festival