Pâques

Pâques is the Christian feast of Easter, celebrated in France on a Sunday between late March and late April, with the date set by the church calendar. In Catholic tradition, church bells are silent from Holy Thursday until Easter Sunday; adults tell children that the bells have flown to Rome and return carrying eggs and chocolate. On Easter morning, many families hide chocolate eggs, hens, fish, or bells in a garden or courtyard for children to find. Some people go to Easter Mass, including the Saturday night Easter Vigil or the Sunday service. The usual greeting is “Joyeuses Pâques !”, and the day often begins with the egg hunt before the main family meal.

The meal for Pâques in France is usually a long family lunch on Sunday or Monday rather than a street celebration. A classic main dish is roast spring lamb, especially gigot d’agneau, often served with seasonal vegetables such as green beans, asparagus, or potatoes. Chocolate is everywhere: eggs, fritures shaped like fish, and bells recalling the story of the returning church bells. In many homes, grandparents, godchildren, and cousins gather, and children compare what they found in the garden. Easter Monday, lundi de Pâques, is a public holiday in France, so families often visit relatives, finish leftover chocolate, or meet for another meal if Sunday was spent at church or with in-laws.

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