Happy May Day from Paris! I arrived yesterday to meet my good friend and traveling buddy in France, Deborah Bine aka @Barefootblogger_France. We’ve enjoyed strolling around Le Marais district today and seeing people of all ages sharing bouquets or simple sprigs of lily of the valley … le muguets, in French. Here’s the explanation.
Happy May Day!
En France ~ Bonne fête du muguet! Bonne fête du travail! Bon premier Mai! Happy Labor Day! Happy first of May!
In many countries around the world, the first of May is a celebrated Labor Day. In France there’s a special twist to the holiday that I love. I recycle this post every year because I don’t want to change anything about it. If you read it last year … or the year before , I hope you enjoy it again. And if you can find some Lily of the Valley to give to a friend, all the better.
En mai, fais ce qu’il te plait!
Provençal proverb ~ In May, do what pleases you!
Here’s my May 1st muguet to each of you.
Every May 1st I like to share one of my favourite traditions in France ~ La Fête du Travail or La Fête du Muguet. The day is a national holiday ~ International Workers’ Day, like Labour Day in North America. But more than that it is an occasion when people give little bouquets or sprigs or pots of le muguet (lily of the valley) to each other. Like so many of the things we love about France, the tradition has lasted for centuries. It began in 1561, during the Renaissance.
A few years ago, my husband and I had just finished a magical stay (but then isn’t it always?) in Paris and the Loire Valley. We were driving south to the Dordogne region on May 1st and in every town, big or small, this was the scene. Even on a drizzly day. I loved it!
Obviously, young or old, everyone puts a lot of thought into this tradition.
A vivid memory of that rainy morning, is of an elderly woman sitting under an umbrella beside her small stand of bouquets of muguets. It wasn’t an appropriate picture to take … and no time to stop in the midst of traffic … but I’ve never forgotten the image. Does this happen to you sometimes when you travel? Your eye is the shutter and a particular image is captured forever in your memory?
Le muguet or lily of the valley represents a porte-bonheur, a good luck charm, to special people in your life. I am offering one to each of you.
Does your culture or country have a special May 1st tradtion?
Stay tuned for more updates during the month of May as Deborah and I drive our road trip through Normandy and eventually end up in Antibes. Come along with us!
Now that we’ve finished celebrating January in France by eating les galettes des rois, the kings’ cake, it’s time to sweep away those crumbs and haul out the crêpes pan!
French-Candlemas-La-Chandeleur-Crêpe-Day February 2nd, is La Chandeleur, Fête des Lumières, Jour des Crêpes. You might know it as Candlemas.
Churches will celebrate the tradition of the lighting of candles.
Then it will be all about … what else, this IS France … food!
Crêpes and cidre. Unlike our apple cider, this drink has a touch of alcohol.
The day is often accompanied by fortune telling and in many kitchens, crêpes are flipped in the air with the pan in one hand and a coin in the other. If the crêpe lands back in the pan, the year will be a prosperous one. Children hold their breath in anticipation!
Similar to our North American Groundhog Day, there’s a prediction about winter at this time of year. “Rosée à la Chandeleur, hiver à sa dernière heure.” If there is dew at dawn, winter will soon be over.
As the French do so well, the day is a fun-filled, family time. If you’re tempted to celebrate your own Jour des Crêpes, they are delicious and light and easy to make. Click right here for a recipe.
There are crêpe stands or crêperies everywhere in France and today, as well as through the weekend, there will be few people not enjoying this simple and delicious food with a filling of choice ~ sweet or savoury. Crêpes have a history that goes back to Biblical times and in France, Britanny is said to have established the true crêpe recipe.
Have you ever made crêpes? Which do you prefer, the French crêpe or it’s slightly heavier English cousin, the pancake? Are you a fan of sweet or savoury?
And here’s a chuckle in honour of Groundhog Day. I hope your groundhog’s prediction was what you wanted to hear … but as Phyllis says below …
Happy February everyone ~ stay warm, safe and read some great stories! I hope one of those is THE FRENCH EFFECT! Readers are loving it and the audiobook will be out this month. Once you’ve enjoyed your getaway in France, please remember to leave a review … short is fine … on Amazon and Goodreads. Thanks so much!
I can’t wait to bring my new novel into the world on November 15th! I loved writing this story that is filled characters you are going to love, settings you are going to love and even a Doberman you are going to love … and don’t worry if that sounds like too much love, because it isn’t. There’s plenty of history, intrigue and twists to keep you turning the pages. Seriously, I hope you enjoy the read! I’m told it is just the right kind of story we need in these chaotic times.
Here’s a chat I had with my good friend Lou of Loulabelle Francophile while I was in France for September. Lou loves France as much as I do, so please take a few minutes and enjoy it! Just click here for the podcast.
Thanks for pre-ordering. It’s such a big help to an author when it comes to those crazy algorithms. The more pre-orders we have, the more exposure our book receives and I truly believe this is a story everyone will enjoy.
Here’s the blurb … Sorry for the crazy spacing. Being totally a non-techie, I have no idea how to fix it and it is too late at night to ask my tech assistant. So I’ m just going to post it like this. Please forgive me …
From the bestselling author of the LOVE IN PROVENCE series, comes a hopeful and heartwarming journey that reminds us it’s never too late for a second chance.
France has a way of changing your mind … and your heart …
Novelist Nora Bennett is living her fifties with more doubts than dreams. Once content with her quiet life, she’s recently found herself battling writer’s block, a growing restlessness–and resistance to a holiday season she’s long stopped celebrating. So, when her daughter Chloe, an artist living in Paris, asks her to dog-sit an intimidating Doberman named Atticus, Nora surprises them both by saying yes.
Delicious meals, long walks through the storied streets of Montmartre, and a chance to rediscover a spark of joy in the glittering holiday lights of Paris: Six weeks in the City of Light might be just the escape Nora needs.
Except Paris has other plans. Nora agrees to ghostwrite a memoir for 93-year-old Marie-Louise, who reveals haunting memories of surviving the Occupation as a child of the Resistance. A charming younger tango partner with secrets of his own introduces Nora to the French art of pleasure. All the while, the city’s irresistible festive spirit envelops her gently.
Chloe invites Nora to spend Christmas at her husband Olivier’s centuries-old ancestral farm in Provence. There, Nora is embraced by the warmth of family and treasured traditions. She’s also unexpectedly drawn to Pierre, her son-in-law’s moody and magnetic father. Their connection is undeniable, even as he seems intent on keeping his distance.
But when Atticus suddenly goes missing, Pierre joins Nora in searching for him. Soon a winding road trip returning to Paris softens their defenses … and reveals complicated truths behind their guarded hearts.
Yet as Nora’s time in France begins to wind down, she must decide: Return to the comfort of the life she knew – or leap into a bold new chapter she never imagined beyond the pages of her novels.
“The Second Line Show” has put together a virtual excursion to the heart of France through these talented, “you-need-to-know” authors experiences, writing, culture and cuisine! Come on a couch vacation with Nola Nash, Patricia Sands, Craig Carlson, Julien Chameroy, Michael Higgins, Samantha Vérant & Lisa Anselmo!!
No passport or packing required! Let us whisk you off to France! Join Annie McDonnell of The Write Review and Nola Nash of The Second Line Show for an entertaining chat about our books set in France and the passion behind them 📚 with ~ 💞🇫🇷💞Craig Carlson and Julien Chameroy ~ entrepreneurial owner and manager of the Breakfast In America diners in Paris
💞🇫🇷💞 Lisa Anselmo, American writer, speaker, brand coach living her ‘part-time’ life in Paris
💞🇫🇷💞 Samantha Vérant, memoir and women’s fiction author, American living the dream in southwestern France
💞🇫🇷💞 Patricia Sands, women’s fiction author, Canadian, living like a local for months each year on the Côte d’Azur
💞🇫🇷💞 Michael Higgins, author, photographer, world-class wine expert, tirelessly pursuing the best wine regions in France and worldwide for over 20 years
💞🇫🇷💞What we all love to share is our passion for France.
VISIT THE WRITE REVIEW OR NOLA NASH/THE SECOND LINE SHOW ON FACEBOOK FOR THIS VIRTUAL EXCURSION
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