Aditi

Shekar
French I

Project 1b
France is a country full of life. The people are united, celebrating all of their holidays in their
own ways. France has beautiful traditions, which is why I will be exploring in depth 4 main
holidays in France. They are Bastille Day, Assumption Day, Mardi Gras, and Christmas.
Bastille Day (quatorze juillet) is a remarkable day for France. On July 14, 1789, angry
Parisians stormed down the Bastille, a tower that held prisoners. They stormed it down in hopes
of diminishing the unruly aristocratic government that only helped the nobles and wealthy class
of France. This sparked the start of the French Revolution, a series of wars that were fought
based on Enlightenment ideas of rights and equality. The French Revolution led to the idea that
citizens hold the power. The monarchy was gone as the new and modern republic took its place.
Today, France calls this day their Independence Day. Bastille Day calls for a huge celebration in
France. The day first starts out with a parade. French flags are displayed and the anthem is
played as people march down the French streets patriotically. This parade is very similar to the
July 4th celebrations or the Macy's Day Parade celebration. Next, an extravagant feast is prepared
in the middle of the day. The meal starts off with something fresh, such as a salad. Then,
vegetables and fruits are served along with a healthy but heavy main meal. To top all of this,
dessert is served. The feast doesn't last very long. After the feast the rest of the afternoon is spent
at ease. Finally, at night, there are fireworks. This is a new tradition similar to Americas
Independence Day celebrations. In America, we spend the day with family celebrating and the
watch fireworks at night, which is quite similar to Bastille Day traditions. Bastille Day is a day
spent with the family. It is a day to cherish life and the freedom of France.

Patriotic Parade in Paris, France

Fireworks at the Eiffel Tower

Assumption Day, also known as the Assumption of Mary, is the day in Christianity that the
Virgin Mary was taken to heaven after her death on Earth. It is celebrated on August 15. It is
believed that Mary didn't die in the regular human way, but was instead taken to heaven after
death to be reunited with her soul. Celebrations on this day include village festivals, a grand
feast, and celebrations in the blessed town of Lourdes, where a young girl by the name of
Bernadette saw a vision of Mary near caves. Village festivals consist of sports, parades, markets,
and meals. Businesses are usually closed on this day and most people are out of town as it is
summer vacation for them. Many pilgrims travel to Lourdes to be in the holy site. They drink the
holy water from the spring near the caves and many claim to feel much better after drinking this
water. There isn't a special food that is eaten on Assumption Day, but since it's summer, fresh
fruits, salads, and poultry are eaten. Assumption Day is spent with the family. Many team

Aditi
Shekar
French I
activities are present, and family and friends spend time together as a group, away from the
temptations of shopping and work. People attend church (mainly Catholics) on this day.
Assumption Day is celebrated nationally. In America, it isn't a major holiday, so businesses are
still open. In some parts of America, there are feasts and fireworks. France celebrates
Assumption Day in a grander scale than America.

Queen Mary Statue in France on a platform

Mardi Gras is a fun festival where you get to dress up and dance with friends and family. It
was the last day that Christians could eat fatty foods, as they would have to pray and eat no meat
for the next 40 days (until Easter). In France, Mardi Gras is a huge celebration. Especially in
Nice, there is a huge carnival with rides. People mainly eat waffles and les beignets du carnival
(a donut) rather than crpes. Along with these celebrations, of course, there is dressing up. A
tradition not only in France, but nationwide; people dress up in extravagant costumes with masks
and dance around on the streets as well as party late. Mardi Gras is a time when you can have fun
with your friends and family without worrying about anything else. There are t many traditions
for Mardi Gras. It is a time to party with your close ones. America celebrates Mardi Gras very
closely to France. Especially in New Orleans, Mardi Gras is a huge festival. People dance on the
streets and wear fancy costumes. America and France celebrate it the same way: by partying!

Aditi
Shekar
French I
This is a party out on the streets in France, with a float and many people dressed up
Christmas, the holiday that lights up so many childrens lives. Christmas is a worldwide
celebration that has transitioned from a religious holiday to one filled with presents and cookies
and our favorite, Santa Claus. France celebrates Christmas marvelously. French people decorate
their homes with a Nativity Crib, which is a basket with clay figures on them (Jesus, Mary
Joseph, priest). Yule logs made out of cherry wood are used to light
up and warm many French homes. Red wine is sprinkled on the logs so that they smell good. It
is tradition to leave the fire burning all night (Christmas Eve) with some food and drinks on a
table just in case Jesus and Mary stop by. Santa Claus (Pre Nel) may stop by as well with gifts.
In Eastern France, Santa might be accompanied by Le Pere Fouettard, a man dressed in black.
There is a main meal eaten on Christmas Eve, or early Christmas morning. It is called Rveillon.
It is eaten right after the church service is attended. It consists of roast turkey with chestnuts or
roast goose, oysters, foie grass, lobster, venison, and different cheeses. After the main course,
dessert is served. Dessert is usually a chocolate sponge cake log called a bche de Nel. In some
parts of France, 13 different desserts are eaten, all made from different fruits, nuts, and pastries.
Christmas is a joyous time celebrated with the family and friends. In America, Christmas is
celebrated just like in France. The meal is different. In America, we might eat meat or
(vegetarians and vegans like me) potatoes and other fatty food. Dessert is similar. We might eat a
chocolate cake or a vegan form of that. Also, we might have milk and the adults might have
wine. America and France celebrate Christmas were similarly. Christmas is a worldwide holiday
that children count down to and parents get ready for. It is an enjoyable holiday that is spent with

close ones.
This is a bche de Nel, and is a chocolate cake eaten in France
Overall, Bastille Day, Assumption Day, Mardi Gras, and Christmas are huge holidays in
France that are celebrated to a grand level. Bastille Day is the day of independence for France
and is celebrated with a huge meal and fireworks, Assumption Day is celebrated by going to
church or to Lourdes, Mardi Gras is celebrated by partying, and Christmas is celebrated by being
with the family and friends and eating delicious foods and desserts. France has a strong sense of
culture and tradition that makes it such a beautiful and unique country. Jaime la France. Au
revoir!