traditions | A French Collection

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.

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.

The French Beret

The French beret along with the Eiffel Tower, baguette, Citroën 2CV and the rooster are all true French icons - loved by the French and those of us that call ourselves Francophiles. The traditional French béret is a soft round peak-less cap that is flat on top and usually made of wool with a small tab on top.

This symbol of French culture can be worn in various positions: over either ear, pulled down over both ears, on the back of your head, flat on top or tipped forward over your eyes.

Origin of the French beret

History has recorded the beret through the ages in writings, sculptures, paintings and folklore. Here's a quick look at references to the beret in history:

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.

World Baking Day

Happy World Baking Day

World Baking Day is a day of celebration held annually on the third Sunday of each May. It's a day for everyone to get baking their favourite recipe and enjoy delicious food with family and friends. So grab your rolling pin, flour, sugar, butter and apron and turn on your oven.

Easter Decor and Family Gift Ideas

Easter in France, or Pâques, is an important holiday. It's religious, but also a great time for family gatherings, and of course time off work with a three day weekend. It's all about delicious food around the family table, egg hunting and relaxing on the long weekend.

Easter fun also means decorating your home and adding little personal touches to welcome family and friends around the dinner table, or to their guest bedrooms during the holiday. Hiding eggs for kids' egg hunts is one of the best parts of Easter I think. My children are older now so we don't have 'hunts', but I remember them well, especially on the occasions we invited their friends to join in on the hunt!

Thanksgiving Day and Feeling Grateful

Happy Thanksgiving

As my American friends are celebrating their Thanksgiving, I am celebrating my life and all that I feel grateful for too. Who says we cannot adopt a different country's celebration and tweak it for ourselves?!

Thanksgiving is not originally an Australian or French tradition but it is growing in popularity because being grateful is always in style and worth celebrating. American Thanksgiving is celebrated annually on the fourth Thursday of November.

The Pumpkin and Thanksgiving

If Thanksgiving is not one of your traditions maybe you don't know why the pumpkin is associated with the day? Northeastern Native American tribes grew squash and pumpkins and gave them as gifts to the first settlers and taught them all the different uses for pumpkins.

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.