Awaken To Easter Celebrations in France

Bonjour mes amis,

Easter celebrations throughout France are quite unique. Chocolatiers and children alike all play a part in the lead up to Easter.

If you are lucky enough to be in Paris on April’s Fools Day, you may be sneakily tagged with a small paper fish across your back by some cheeky little child in the hope of having an edible chocolate fish given to them in return! I must admit, the thought of some adults in Paris wearing paper fish on their designer backs is somewhat amusing.

The paper fish tagging scenario is the reason why the French call the First of April, “Poisson d’Avril” or April Fish Day and is also why there are schools of chocolate fish in boulangeries and patisseries across France at this very moment.

Paper fish are readily available in many shops across Paris at this time of year so it seems that everyone is in on the act and plays a small part in the French Easter traditions.

Industrious chocolatiers are in full swing now in creating their chocolate displays for the coming Easter weekend. All artistic endeavours have heightened and their chocolate repertoire broadens to include beautiful creations of eggs and bells.

Why bells you ask? Because according to the French, it was the church bells which carried off the entire sadness of French Christians when Christ died, only to return again on Easter morning for celebrations. That’s also why church bells are never rung between Good Friday and Easter Sunday morning and why chocolate bells are found today along with a myriad of beautiful sculptured animals of all types- including not only fish but roosters, chickens, horses and lobsters in full chocolate glory.

And even some very cute characters like smurfs…

These windows are so divine don’t you think?

The flaunting of these magnificent chocolate creations reminds me of our Australian Lyre bird attracting its partner by fanning out his magnificent plumage to attract his plain coloured mate. This pattern of behaviour is always successful! Likewise, the mastery of the French chocolatier is eye catching, with divine chocolate from deepest dark to milky white and is certainly designed to please and send the senses reeling.Their exquisite exhibition is definately a courtship for us window shoppers and we are left mouth watering, with noses pressed outside the glass.

Chocolate extravaganzas are in full force this weekend. They’re everywhere! It wasn’t until my very dear friend pointed out that I discovered two chocolate bunnies amongst the tulips in the park off the Champse Elysee. Maybe you will too when you’re on the ‘Easter Hunt’ in any one of the larger parks or gardens in Paris next time you’re there at Easter.

And again some found at Flavigney, home to the film ‘Chocolate ‘ with Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche.

Fancy them being so far from home…

Easter (or life really) just wouldn’t be the same without chocolate so why not give some chocolate this Easter.

By the way, to all chocoholics and fashionistas at heart, the Paris Salon du Chocolat  is staging its annual Chocolate Trends Fashion Show” or really ” chocolate couture ” in aid of fifty childrens charities across the globe. For more information, log onto:

http://www.salonduchocolat.fr/home.php?titre=1&id_code=5&cat=1&sscat=

And to get a closer look at these beautiful models and actors clothed in French chocolate, check out:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinkpicturegalleries/6348263/Chocolate-fashion-show-Salon-du-Chocolat-in-Paris.html

Bonne Paque my friends.

Au Revoir,

Best Wishes, Therese Waddell

copyright@2010 Therese Waddell