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A French Collection

France + All Things French

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How to Open A Champagne Bottle the French Way

French Champagne at old harbour of Cassis, Provence

How to Open A Champagne Bottle the French Way

Feeling festive? Well, that probably means you'll be enjoying a glass of champagne. Did you know there's a traditional French way to open a bottle of champagne? 

Champagne bottles are made to be pretty indestructible as you might already know. This is because as champagne undergoes its second fermentation in the bottle (the part of the process that makes the bubbles), the pressure rises up to six atmospheres, or 60 pounds. Early on in the champagne industry Dom Pérignon experienced some disastrous results attempting to harness this pressure with frequently exploding bottles and cellar workers often wounded or even killed.

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La Chandeleur or Candlemas: A French Tradition

La Chandeleur or Candlemas is celebrated in France

La Chandeleur is also known as Candlemas and the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus and the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary and is a French tradition.  It commemorates the presentation of Jesus at the temple.

In France this commemoration is linked to eating crêpes or pancakes and is called Pancake Day.  It is celebrated on the 2nd of February and there are a couple of rather strange rituals that surround the way you cook your crêpes.

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Annette Charlton

Annette lives with her family between their homes in France and Australia.  She’s been featured in International magazines including French Property News, on numerous blogs and travel websites and appeared on ABC National Radio. You can connect on Instagram or Facebook.

www.afrenchcollection.com

Why Is The Rooster A Symbol Of France?

Rooster Symbol of France

Do you know why the Rooster is a Symbol Of France?

What do you think are the French national symbols? A baguette, a bicycle, a glass of red wine or a rooster? I think all these things conjure up an image of France. The rooster though has a special and a long standing association with being the symbol of France and its people.

The Rooster – Symbol of France

“The Latin word Gallus means both rooster and inhabitant of Gaul” -French government site gouvernement.fr.

Ancient coins even had the rooster engraved on them, but it was not until much later that the rooster actually became more widely used as a representation of the French people.

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Annette Charlton

Annette lives with her family between their homes in France and Australia.  She’s been featured in International magazines including French Property News, on numerous blogs and travel websites and appeared on ABC National Radio. You can connect on Instagram or Facebook.

www.afrenchcollection.com

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Bonjour, I’m Annette, an Australian who’s been living part-time in Brittany since buying our second home in 2009 in a tiny farming village. With extensive time in Paris, visiting châteaux and gardens, historic sites and towns, and exploring my region of Brittany, A French Collection is your go-to for everything French. Enjoy A French Life with me!

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