All the leaves are brown
Californias sleep in hamburger beds?
It's a bit surprising that it's already been
one year since we arrived, yet at the same time when I think back at everything that has happened and everything we've done in the last year it really has been a lot.
The
City of Lights-City of Angels film festivalwas going on at the beginning of the month back in LA, and so to celebrate places all over the city have been organizing a number of Los Angeles related events.
The
Galleries Lafayette (you really should visit this bizarre website), a trend-setter for fashion and which is the city's largest department store, has been
celebrating LA fashion this month. They even had an all-American parade down the Boulevard Haussmann with cheerleaders, hip-hop dancers, (american) football players, and motorcycle gangs. You can take a look at the videos if you think I am making this up:
L.A. Parade,
Californian tatoos and
Krumping. Even the modern art museum,
Centre Pompidou, has dedicated one of their major expositions to Los Angeles.
And then there's the "American Sandwich" that I get from the
local sandwich chain next to my work. I have yet to figure out what part of the sandwhich is American: the hard-boiled egg slices, cornichon pickles, parisian ham, or the baguette bread that its in. But nevertheless, it's named that way.
It's a strange feeling to have all of these reminders around us, yet still being so far. But I guess we'd still be homesick in either case. We miss you guys!
Joyeux Pâques
Easter Bunny?
As dictated by tradition, we are always happy to celebrate Easter with lots of candy and chocolate. Our first year celebrating it here in France was no exception, especially since there are so many Chocolatiers everwhere we go. Though one major difference: there was no Easter Bunny. After being mocked by coworkers after explaining about the furry bunny with the basket of eggs, they had to set me straight and enlighten me with the
real story.
Apparently here in France, it's not a bunny that brings the Easter Eggs but it's "les cloches de Pâques" (
the Bells of Easter). Hardly as silly of a story as the bunny, or so they seemed to think unanimously. According to the story, the Bells of Easter are silent since the day of Holy Thursday because they are gone to Rome for the three days until Easter Sunday. And on their return on Easter, they drop the Easter Eggs and chocolates as they make their way back. They even drop them in hidden places in the gardens for Easter Egg hunts and also drop them in baskets for children.
So go figure, no bunny-- unless maybe if you find yourself eating out at a fancy restaurant on Easter Sunday...
Poisson d'Avril
Fishie-fishie
Another French tradition, although this one is more widely known and for once (possibly the only?) holiday with no religious significance. April Fools Day, or Poisson d'Avril
(April's Fish) as it's known here in France.
Surprisingly, the
origin is commonly believed to have begun here in France. In 1564, King Charles IX ordered the change of the old Julian calendar, with the Gregorian calendar. This resulted in changing the lengths and ordering of the months and also moving the new year from the spring equinox (March 25-April 1) to January 1.
Apparently there was some resistance, striking, and burning of cars because some French continued to celebrate the New Year during the week of April 1. Those who refused acknowledge the new date were ridiculed with pranks and foolish new years gifts. They were called poisson d'avril, because the date marked the end of the zodiacal sign of Pisces.
Though it's mostly for children, the modern day traditional prank is to sneakily attach a paper fish onto the victim's back without being noticed. Once they catch on to being a victim, the prankster has bragging rights to call out "Poisson d'Avril". For the older kids, there are fish shaped treats made by the boulangeries
(bakery), pâtisseries
(pastry shop), and chocolatries
(candy/chocolate shop).
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