Traditions and everyday life in FranceFestivals, family customs, favourite places and everyday traditions, written by members of Global Penfriends who live in France. Each cultural keepsake is a short note about life where they are.
93 keepsakes from France · page 1 of 4
Where I live, in the Grand Est region (between the Vosges mountains and Alsace), we have a non-religious tradition that celebrates the change of seasons and our connection to nature: The Transhumance Festival (known locally as La…
Shared by Bleuenn
If you really want to feel the heartbeat of French elegance, there is no better place than the Palais Garnier in Paris. This isn\'t just a building, it\'s a golden temple of music, drama, and style.Going to the Opéra de Paris is…
Shared by Nass_Paris
La Fête des Lumières (The Festival of Lights) is a really special event that takes place every December in Lyon, France. It started as a local tradition back in the 1800s, when people lit candles in their windows to honor the…
Shared by Liloutaine
Normandy is the greenest region of France. If you're interested in History, Normandy is the land given in 911 by the French king "Charles III" to the Viking king "Rollon". "Normandy" means "land of the Nor Mans" ("land of the Men…
Shared by VladIsFrench
I live in the Monts du Lyonnais, in a small village about 40 km from Lyon and at an altitude of nearly 800 meters. It's a rural and hilly region, with many small villages, old stone farmhouses, meadows, and beautiful countryside…
Shared by Florentia73
On June 21th, France explodes with music ! Especially in big cities, people go out to play music or sing and dance in the streets. Despite the massive heatwave, the Toulousians can't help but enjoy this occasion ! The town center…
Shared by JellO Fish
It is maybe strange for some people but my favorite seasons are Fall and Winter. I like the atmosphere during September to January. Orange leaves, thick fog, the cold and snow. Even if in France we do not see snow often :( I…
Shared by Jessicat
Remarkably preserved in a littoral dune, the thermal baths of Hogolo were discovered in 1892; several excavation campaigns were carried out in the twentieth century. The monument dates from the 1st century. Enlarged in the second…
Shared by Caro-Mael
Where I live we are surrounded by mountains. One day a girl from my group of friends pointed out that we never went sledging all together even though the mountains were so near. So the next weekend, since it was a snowy day, we…
Shared by PolochonAndRonaldShouldBeBFFs
Every year on December 8th, the city of Lyon, France, celebrates the Festival of Lights (Fête des Lumières). This tradition has a deep Christian origin. It began centuries ago when the people of Lyon believed the Virgin Mary had…
Shared by french.arwen
ENGLISH TRANSLATIONOn holiday, we were walking in the woods, with my husband and my son, in a region we were discovering, and we came across a magnificent waterfall (frozen! But superb). Then we went to visit a very well-known…
Shared by LudiBellule
Saint James Fire or in French “les feux de la St Jean” is a very important tradition in Catalonia. It exists as well in other part of Europe but it is still celebrated in Catalonia. We gather on the between 21st and 24th of June…
Shared by teszzsku
The French National Day, also called July 14, is a public holiday in France. The storming of the Bastille, which took place on Tuesday July 14, 1789 in Paris, is one of the inaugural and emblematic events of the French…
Shared by Fille Vintage
Every summer, with my Church, there's a trip to Le Mont Saint-Michel. We park our cars in a city few kilometers away and we cross the bay, by feet, from that point to Le Mont Saint-Michel (a 7km walk on the sand, shifting sand…
Shared by Alinoe
Every year in May Orleans celebrate Joan of Arc during a five days festival. A girl from a local High school is selected to be the living embodiment of JOA. Clad in armour mounted on a horse, everyday she will lead a medival…
Shared by Warpuppy
In many countries, Epiphany is celebrated with special traditions. In France, it's customary to eat the "Galette des Rois", a pastry with a hidden charm or "fève" inside. The person who finds the charm becomes the "king" or…
Shared by Athelesia
'Lilith the scorpion woman (present at the Hellfest festival) wants to open the doors of darkness in the city. To stop him, Asterion the minotor will help Ariadne the spider to defeat Lilith and her army of demons. It involves 3…
Shared by Tdremd
Celebrated every year on July 14th, Bastille Day is the country's most important holiday. It commemorates the storming of the Bastille in 1789, a pivotal moment in the French Revolution that symbolizes liberty and national unity…
Shared by Joel10
The Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc Cave (French: Grotte Chauvet-Pont d'Arc, French pronunciation: [ɡʁɔt ʃovɛ pɔ̃ daʁk]) in the Ardèche department of southeastern France is a cave that contains some of the best-preserved figurative cave…
Shared by AlbaHelvie
Toro de fuego is a traditional and festive activity from Spain and the Basque country (south west of France and north of Spain) in which you set a fake bull on fire, which turns into festive firecrackers and fireworks ! And…
Shared by Thilda_lh
It’s an event all France like to celebrate but I like it more specifically in school. It’s on February the 25th, a day we can be what and who we want to be. In my school, the class where the most people are disguised wins a price…
Shared by momotise
In France we celebrate music every year in the 21st of June. That day, everyone is out on the streets playing music. Everyone goes out with friends to enjoy music groups all around the cities and dance together. It is a very…
Shared by Maxayem
There’s so many different styles of architecture in France, so I thought I might show some examples ! First one is from the Palais Garnier in Paris, this is probably what people think french architecture is at first, then the…
Shared by clemiscool
Lyon is a very walkable city. It's also easy to get around by taking the metro to any variety of its interesting neighborhoods. I love wandering around Vieux Lyon (Old Lyon), with its colorful Renaissance architecture and…
Shared by teabright
Every year, the town puts on its most beautiful decorations to invite visitors to immerse themselves in the magical atmosphere of Christmas.Head to Locronan town centre to discover the many garlands of lights that adorn the…
Shared by Wolfie77
Paris is overwhelming, everyone always seems in a rush and angry. Cool places are super crowded every time. But in the night, the atmosphere changes. Less people, no noise and peaceful darkness (in safe areas ok!). My favorite…
Shared by Rieeeeee
In Angers there is a midle-aged castle with jardin à la française. In the castle, there is the biggest and best preserved medieval tapestry in the world. The tapestry of the Apocalypse was commanded by duc Louis the 1st of Anjou…
Shared by Ondee
If you visit Brittany in the summer, you might have the chance to attend a "Fest Noz."The Bretons (Brittany people), proud of their heritage even before becoming part of France, continue to celebrate their dance and music on…
Shared by Alena Hecate
Here are some pictures i took with my camera while wandering around
Shared by Insomniia
As the title say, this is an event held during summer, on most every city/town of France, even in the smallest ones. Basically, it’s from a week-end to a week, mostly during the afternoon and at night, where there’s a lot of…
Shared by almndsoobinWant to hear about life in France first-hand? Write to a penpal who lives there.
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