Fête de la Musique!

 

 

Fête de la Musique

 

 

If you are in France, you are surely enjoying the music today.  In Paris the streets, parks, and churches are filled with music of all genres.  I will never forget the delightful close of a very busy day as we sat on the terrasse of Pré aux Clercs and listened to the wonderful sounds of smooth jazz.  As you can tell from this photo, the jazz quartet was a visual delight as well.

 

 

For the summer solstice,

have a celebration with food and music,

centered on family and friends

 

 

 

Pré aux Clercs

rue Jacob et rue Bonaparte

75006, Paris



 

 

 



Fêtes des Mères

Joyeux Fêtes des Mères

Wishing mothers around the world a joyous Mother's Day 

as we celebrate in the United States on the second Sunday in May.  

If you want to celebrate twice, 

be sure to mark the last Sunday in May (25th) 

for the traditional French celebration of mothers.  

The tradition calls for flowers and perhaps a poem, 

catering to the whims of "maman," 

and culminating the day with a large meal for the whole family, bien sûr.

The dessert, so I am told, is a cake that resembles a bunch of flowers.

bon dimanche

Musée du Louvre

75001, Paris

 

 

Poisson d'Avril - chut!

Do you know what tomorrow is?

In the United States it is April Fools Day and we play pranks like, "Look out!  There's a spider on your shoulder!" 

The tradition in France includes poisson d'avril, attempting to attach a paper fish to the victim's back without being noticed.  There is an interesting history of this holiday of foolishness, and it originated in France in the 16th century.  You can read about it here.

Today in France, people who are fooled on April 1 are called poisson d'avril, which literally means the "April Fish," because a young naive fish is easily caught.  

So, are you going to play a little prank tomorrow?

 

 

 

Le Baron Rouge, wine bar

1, rue Théophile Roussel

75012, Paris

La Chandeleur - jour des crêpes!

La Chandeleur

Fête des chandelles

(Candlemas - English)

Today is Candlemas, 2 February, and it is celebrated in France with crêpes.

Today I will be making crêpes, holding a coin in my left hand, and flipping the crêpe pan in my right.  If I can catch the crêpe, it means my family will be prosperous for the rest of the year, such is the legend.  Also, one does not eat crêpes until after 8:00pm.

This chef at Crêperie Plougastel on Rue du Montparnasse, allowed me to take some photos of him as he deftly prepared all the crêpes for the lunch crowd.  I have been here three or four times, introduced by French friend Isabelle.  They have both savory and sweet crêpes with quick service and good prices.  On a street full of crêperies, this one is always well attended.

 

 

bon dimanche

 

 

Crêperie Plougastel

47, rue du Montparnasse

75014, Paris

 

 

 

Quatorze Juillet - La Fête Nationale!

The Gates of Invalides

All of Paris is dressed in the bleu, blanc, et rouge of the French flag.  

The crowds and the traffic are impossible, 

but the pleasure of being there in the streets 

for the great national celebration is worth it.

Vive la France!

Invalides

75007, Paris

Paris and Beyond - 3 years, 1109 posts

Thank you for following, for your feedback,

and for sharing in my love for Paris (and beyond)

Boulevard Saint-Germain - le marché

Booths along Bd Saint-Germain

The colors in this booth caught my eye, 

but it was only just now that I noticed two souvenirs 

I should have purchased that day.  

I see the vélos in many bright shades and just below... 

are those miniature 2CVs*?!

* 2CV = deux chevaux-vapeur

Weekend street (sidewalk) market

Bd Saint-Germain at Rue Bonaparte

75006, Paris

 

Fête de la Musique - solstice d'été

Summer Solstice

So what does the solstice d'été have to do with music?  In Paris and many parts of France the summer solstice is accompanied by a grand celebration of music, with all genres and forms.  You can visit the churches for special concerts, listen to street musicians in the squares and gardens.  The cafés have jazz quartets and pop music and everything in between.  The music begins early and extends to the wee hours of the morning.

"The musicians are asked to perform for free, and all the concerts are free for the public. It’s the reason why they are used to play in open air areas as streets and parks or in public buildings like museums, train stations, castles… Furthermore, the Fête de la Musique is a way to encourage the major music institutions (orchestra, operas, choirs, etc.) to perform outside their usual locations." (official site here)

This photo was taken of the "piano man" on June 21, 2010, Fête de la Musique, a wonderful day spent with friends soaking up beautiful weather and a variety of music.  

Wish I was there today.

Pont Saint-Louis

75004, Paris

Poisson d'avril -- chut!

Do you know what tomorrow is?

In the United States it is April Fools Day and we play pranks like, "Look out!  There's a spider on your shoulder!" 

The tradition in France includes poisson d'avril, attempting to attach a paper fish to the victim's back without being noticed.  There is an interesting history of this holiday of foolishness and it originated in France in the 16th century.  You can read about it here.

Today in France, people who are fooled on April 1 are called Poisson d'avril, which literally means the "April Fish," because a yound naive fish is easily caught.  

So, are you going to play a little prank tomorrow?

(I do know that these are oysters, but I did not have any good fish photos.)

Mardi Gras!

Today is Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, Carnivale....

It is last day to eat galette des rois, the last day of festivities before Ash Wednesday and Lent.

For us, far beyond Paris, we will be enjoying the last days of merriment, parades, and parties with hats.

 

La Chandeleur -- le jour des crêpes

For this crêpe maker, every day is le jour des crêpes.

The Catholic feast day, La Chandeleur, celebrates the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple 40 days after Christmas, on February 2nd.  It is also referred to as "Candlemas" or Candle Mass for the blessing of beeswax candles used in the church all during the year.

In France the day is celebrated with crêpes which must be eaten only after 8:00pm.  If the cook can flip a crêpe while holding a coin in the other hand, the family is guaranteed a prosperous year.  The many rituals and superstitions surrounding this date include the Groundhog Day test of whether or not the little animal sees his shadow.

We always have crêpes (if I am not traveling), and Holly goes out for her crêpes with friends.  I think that my photo is going to give you two days of feasts in one as Sunday (February 5) is World Nutella Day!  I think that I will have my crêpes with bananas, Nutella, ice cream, and a little dollop of Chantilly cream.  It is after all a feast! 

Will you have savory or sweet crêpes?

Rue Mouffetard

75005, Paris