Traditions | A French Collection

World Postcard Day

Antique French postcards on desk with pencils

World Postcard Day on 1 October

Every year on the 1st of October, postcard lovers around the world celebrate World Postcard Day. It's a relatively new occasion but it has a very old heart. The date was chosen because the first official postcard was issued by the Austrian Post on October 1st, 1869. The first postcard was a light-brown rectangle called the Correspondenz-Karte featuring a pre-stamped postage and space for a short message, and it was designed by an Austrian postal clerk named Emanuel Herrmann.

World Postcard Day itself grew out of Postcrossing's celebration of the 150th anniversary of the postcard in 2019, when a worldwide campaign of exhibitions, meetups, special cancellation marks, and workshops was organised to mark the occasion. The following year it became an annual celebration, and it has been observed ever since on the 1st of October.

Breton Boules

The game of Breton boules is an ancient ball game that's played in the western part of France, Brittany. Breton boules is very similar to classic boules or pétanque, but it's rules are slightly different. Breton boules is played in our village almost every day on the single terrain behind the Tabac (bar) and at the boulodrome (multi-terrain competition field) when there's inter-village competitions. Competitions are fun to participate in with most of the village turning out to play or watch and with visitors from nearby villages bolstering numbers, the stalls selling frites (hot chips) and saucisses (sausages) get busy and are great spots for some lively conversations.

An easy game to play at home (maybe minus a terrain) and one of the best ways to immerse yourself in French life when in France. Just ask if you can join in, and unless it’s an inter-commune competition, you’ll be welcomed to participate. If you’re having trouble sourcing a boules game for yourself, then take a look at this game available on Amazon.

What is “La Rentrée”?

What is la Rentrée in France?

September in France is the season of la Rentrée, or 'the Return' and it is like the start of a new year. For school children it is literally the start of the new school year at their école (school) after the long summer holiday. Adults return to work also after their long vacances (holidays) from work.

August is the month that many employees take their holidays to travel with their children and visit family. With the warm, sunny summer weather, August is the preferred time of travel for many French employees, and with four to six weeks of government directed paid vacation time per year, why not enjoy enjoy all that summer has to offer!

Breton Traditions

Breton traditions and culture is rich particularly in the areas of cuisine, dance, music and costumes. Brittany was christened Breiz Izel (Little Britain) by the Welsh and Cornish migrants who fled here in the 5th and 6th centuries AD. They imposed their customs, language and religion on the local Gauls.

Brittany is a region in the northwest of France, with a strong Celtic influence and we love embracing the history and Breton traditions of the region we call 'home'. Breton culture and tradition is strongly preserved and actively enjoyed by young and old. Here's an overview of some of the best-known Breton traditions.

Saint Honoré Day or Bread Day

Saint Honoré the Patron Saint of Bakers and Pastry Chefs

France is rather special in that it holds dear to its customs and has a rich tradition of assigning saints as special guardians and protectors of just about every aspect of our lives. There is even a patron saint of bakers and pastry chefs called Saint Honoré.

Saint Honoré is the saint or protector of all bakers and pastry chefs and with just about every village or town boasting at least one boulangerie (bakery), and cities with substantially more, Saint Honore is indeed a very busy Saint!

Easter Traditions in France

Les Traditions De Pâques

How is Easter celebrated in France and what are the Easter traditions that make "Pâques" (Easter in French) so special? Learn more about Easter food, the magic bells and what days are public holidays, together with what our family does at Easter time in France.

This important celebration and holiday on the French calendar is widely observed across the nation. Easter Good Friday commemorates Jesus Christ's crucifixion, Easter Sunday celebrates Jesus' resurrection, and the day after Easter Sunday is Easter Monday. This Monday is a public holiday in France.

France has some unusual Easter traditions that we'll take a better look at including magic flying bells, a disappearing bunny and a giant omelette.

Halloween in France

I've just spent another Halloween in France and thought I'd share my experiences with you. Halloween is not a tradition that I grew up with or one that I celebrated with my children as they grew up. However, the last two years I've been in France for Halloween and I've enjoyed two different experiences around the event. This year I was in Paris and last year I was at home in my village where I got involved in village Halloween activities and loved it!

Let me take a moment to set the scene. At my home in Australia our driveway is long, over 200 metres long, and after you leave the public roadway, our driveway goes down a steep hill and turns at 'the big tree' and it ends up at our house and small garage. The driveway is bordered by two metre high hedges on either side and there are no lamp-posts or solar lights and large gum trees filter any moon light.

Santonniers of Provence seek UNESCO status

Santonniers of Provence Seek UNESCO Status

Did you catch in the news a couple of months back how the French baguette has just been awarded UNESCO status? Chosen as the winner by the French who voted in 2021 from the choices of the distinctive grey zinc roofs of Paris, the tradition of wine festivals, and the baguette - the crusty bread stick won hands down!

Well, another French traditional product has applied for UNESCO status. The Santon makers of Provence have put forward their craft. They have formed an association named 'Savoir-faire des Santonniers de Provence', with the intention of getting the process of creating the hand-painted clay figurines included on the list of intangible cultural heritage. Just like the baguette.