Easter in France

Easter traditions in France

Easter in France is considered as the most important Christian celebration of the year. It commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion on Good Friday and marks the end of the fasting period of Lent.

The French word “Pâque” derives from the Latin “pascua”, meaning “food”, which itself comes from the Hebrew “Pessah” meaning “passing way” (hence the word “passage”) and is the Jewish name for the Passover celebration, which remembers the Exodus out of Egypt.

According to the Gospel, it was during this Jewish celebration that Jesus rose again.

In French, there is a spelling distinction between “la Pâque juive” (the Passover celebrated by the Hebrews) and the “fête chrétienne de Pâques” (Christian celebration of Easter). While the Jewish Passover commemorates the Exodus from Egypt, the Christian Easter celebrates the latter event; that is, the last Supper of Christ before His Passion, His crucifixion, and His resurrection.

About the French word ‘Pâques’

The French traditions of Easter

In Alsace, people decorate their houses before Easter. Branches are set up with painted eggs, spring flowers and little figurines hanging beautifully in the windows or in the centre of a table. Children create nests with leaves, moss or grass which they place in the garden, hoping that during the night, the Bells (or the Easter Bunny) would fill them up with multi-coloured (and chocolate) eggs.

les traditions de Pâques en France

Easter is celebrated on a Sunday, the date of which is dependent on the seasons and the movement of the sun.

Easter Sunday is celebrated on the 14th day of the first lunar month in spring. This corresponds to the first Sunday following the first full moon of spring. This date can change depending on the longitude of the city from which the observation is made. In France (and in Australia), this is set as Rome.

The date is based on the lunar calendar. In 2011, Easter is set for 24th April, then in 2012 it will be 8th April and in 2013, on 31st March.

Easter Sunday (Dimanche de Pâques) and Easter Monday (Lundi de Pâques) are public holidays in France and most shops and administrations will be closed (except your local bakery!). Good Friday (Vendredi Saint) is a working day, except in the French départements of Moselle in Lorraine, and Haut-Rhin and Bas-Rhin in Alsace.

Setting the date of Easter

Easter decorations in Alsace - décorations de Pâques

The tradition of giving decorated eggs lies in the fact that eggs symbolise life and renewal. Therefore, it was only natural that it would become a symbol for Easter which commemorates renewal through the resurrection of Christ.

Also, as it was forbidden to eat eggs during Lent, it was not surprising either to find them in large quantities at Easter time. In medieval times, people used to offer each other decorated eggs at Easter; a tradition which gave birth to numerous legends and customs.

In France, it was only in the 18th century that fresh eggs were emptied and filled with chocolate. Then, chocolate-shaped eggs were made to be hidden in the garden for children to find.

Some snapshots of Easter egg hunt (la chasse aux oeufs):

Easter eggs - l’œuf de Pâques

The Easter Bunny is an Easter tradition of Germanic and Nordic origin. The rabbit and the hare were emblematic animals of a goddess named “Ost ara”, which gave its name to Easter in English. The great fertility of the rabbit symbolised abundance, renewal and the proliferation of life. It is believed that it was in Alsace and the Upper Rhineland (both then in the Holy Roman Empire) that that the hare was first connected with Easter. Just as the Christmas tree is for Christmas, it was also in Alsace that the practice of offering Easter eggs was first recorded in a publication dating to the early 17th century.

The Easter Bunny - le lapin de Pâques

However, in Catholic lands, such as France, rabbits are replaced by another tradition: the Easter Bells.

Even though chocolate Easter bunnies are found everywhere in local stores and supermarkets, it is traditionally believed that it was not them who brought Easter eggs to the children on Sunday morning.

In France, the eggs are brought by the Easter Bells (cloches de Pâques) on their way back from Rome.

The tradition around the silent bells originates from the 7th century when the Church forbade the ringing of the bells in homage to the death of Christ between Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday. In France, legend has it that on Maundy Thursday, the bell’s chimes flee to Rome where the Pope blesses them. There, they collect the Easter eggs which will be scattered in gardens and yards on their return journey. By the morning of Easter Sunday, they have returned and are ringing out joyfully to declare the resurrection of Christ. When children hear them, they go out to the garden on an egg hunt.

The Easter Bells are often represented with a pair of wings, ribbons or sometimes are transported in a cart.

The Easter Bells - les cloches de Pâques

As at Christmas time, chocolate is an essential component when celebrating Easter in France. In many pâtisseries-chocolateries, great attention to detail results in chocolate eggs looking more like pieces of art than anything edible.

Unlike the chocolate shapes sold in the UK and in Australia, the French do not purchase only Easter eggs shapes. In fact, there is a profusion of different shapes, including chocolate Easter bunnies, Easter Bells, Easter Hens and little Easter Fish called “Fritures de Pâques”.

The “Fritures de Pâques” are small fish-shaped chocolates. They're called “fritures” (fried whitebait) because of their shape and are often packed into straw baskets or chocolate boxes so that they resemble a school of delicious little fish.

Here are below some examples of Easter chocolate items, one from Australia (Coco chocolate) and one from France (Musquar).

Easter chocolate - le chocolat à Pâques

Although not directly related to Easter, the tradition of “Poisson d’Avril” is followed by all French children on 1 April. Paper fish are used to play an April Fools trick, involving sticking a paper fish onto the back of as many adults as possible, then running away yelling “Poisson d’Avril” (April Fish!). Read more about Poisson d’Avril here.

French April Fish - le poisson d’avril

Apple tree in full blossom © French Moments

Easter Eggs © French Moments

Easter Bunnies © French Moments

Poisson d’avril ! © French Moments

Easter Egg hunt / Chasse aux oeufs de Pâques © French Moments

Coco Chocolate in Mosman (Myagah Mews) make beautiful hand crafted high quality chocolates. Their Easter range is stunning and we can happily recommend this “chocolaterie” after having thoroughly tasted their range! They have one other store in Sydney (Kirribili) and feature in London (Harvey Nichols and Selfridges) and their Edinburgh store (Bruntsfield) where Coco Chocolate was born.

Easter Egg © French Moments

Easter Eggs left by the Easter bells! © French Moments

Easter decorations

The ressurection of Christ. Issenheim Altarpiece,

Unterlinden Museum in Colmar

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In Mosman, Australia: Coco chocolate’s Easter eggs

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Easter Bells

In Nancy, France: Musquar chocolate’s Easter eggs

Pâtisserie-Chocolaterie Musquar in Nancy (36, Bd de Baudricourt, 54600 Villers-lès-Nancy) epitomise the French tradition of Easter eggs where nearly all the pâtisseries in France compete with extravagant decorated chocolate based on a traditional savoir-faire. Musquar was founded in 1977 just outside the old town centre and over the years has become reputed for quality chocolate in Nancy. The chocolatiers at Musquar aim to create original decorated eggs while using the highest quality ingredients.

Every small detail is well-taken care of, from the confection of the chocolate to the stunning decoration and the carefully thought out packaging.

Some eggs (pictured above) beautifully depict the famous gold railings of Nancy’s Place Stanislas, with a meticulous attention to detail. Depending on the seasons, Musquar also create fascinating chocolate items such as flower bouquets, Art Nouveau lamps and vases, without forgetting Christmas! Their website photo gallery shows an amazing chocolate reconstitution of Nancy’s Place Stanislas (click here to view it).

Easter chocolate in Australia and in France

Easter is a great time for children to decorate eggs and enjoy craft workshop like the one we hold at French Moments on 20 April 2011. More photos of the events can be viewed here.

Easter: a time of celebration for kids!

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Poisson d’avril - April fish are stuck on the back of as many victims as possible on April Fools’ Day.