Joyeux Mardi Gras!

Happy Mardi Gras

Love life and family

Mardi Gras

Mobile, Alabama, USA

Poisson d'Avril - chut! (demain)

Do you know what tomorrow is?

In the USA 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?

Marché d'Aligre et le Baron Rouge

75012, Paris

La Chandeleur - jour de crêpes

Crêpes for la Chandeleur

Fête des Chandelles

(Candlemas in English) 

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

Yesterday I made crêpes with a seven-year-old 

and an eleven-year-old (supervised by a wild puppy).  

You hold a coin in your left hand and flip the crêpe pan in your right.  

If you can catch the crêpe, 

it means your family will be prosperous for the rest of the year, 

such is the legend.  

If you drop it, the puppy will eat it and you start again

 

 

Pictured above are savory wheat crèpes 

from Crêperie Plougastel which are delicious.  

My helpers and I made the same basic recipe 

of milk, flour, eggs, butter, and a small amount of salt and sugar 

that I have been making since I first learned to cook.  

We will have garlic shrimp crêpes with a bechamel sauce. 

 

 

(miam-miam)

 

 

 

Crêperie Plougastel

47, rue du Montparnasse

75014, Paris

 

Les choristes de Noël

The Carolers

Each December 8th the churches of the Left Bank 

gather in the 5ième to sing the French Christmas carols 

carrying candles through the streets.

We have joined them on several occasions 

after evening services at Saint-Nicholas du Chardonnet.

bon dimanche

Celebration of the Immaculate Conception

Saint-Nicholas du Chardonnet

75005, 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)

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, cheerfully 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.

Crêperie Plougastel

47, rue du Montparnasse

75014, Paris

Avenue George V - le Quatorze Juillet

This is not a usual sight on

Avenue George V

This was at least a vehicle that I could identify

as opposed to the one below which was huge and strange

(photos taken 14 juillet 2008)

Ave George V
75008, Paris

Le quatorze juillet - La Fête Nationale

Le quatorze juillet,

a day of celebration in France and not coincidentally my second blog anniversary!

Two years ago I posted the above photo as I ventured into this daily Paris photoblog, never thinking that I would be able to manage a post every day.  Please look here for the story of how it all started and the friendship I share with Virginia (Paris Through My Lens) who helped me "birth this baby." 

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The photo above shows two French sailors preparing for the grand military parade on Avenue des Champs-Elysées.  I stood on the baricades for hours in order to have a good position to capture the excitement and emotions of the day. 

Now, I have a small oil painting created by Carol Schiff of this moment,

a treasured work of art that I enjoy daily.

Le quatorze juillet

Avenue des Champs-Elysées

75008, Paris

(on this festive day there is no nearby Métro,

bus, taxi so be prepared to walk for miles)



 

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.)