Mother's Day is this Sunday in the United States, but not until May 26 in France and Canada. Those French. Even when they're late, they're charming.
Napoleon inaugurated the tradition of Mother's Day in France, and it became an official holiday in 1950. French moms can be honored in a multitude of ways: gifts, fancy dinners, cards and flowers, a day of rest... like in the U.S., mothers are treated to a special day where their families treat them like gold.
If I could celebrate Mother's Day in the French style, here are some hints I would give my family. Click on the links and enjoy!
Voisin chocolates: http://www.chocolat-voisin.com/chocolats/index.html
A little something from Cartier (in white gold, please): http://www.cartier.com/en
One fresh loaf of Poilane bread every week for a year: http://www.poilane.fr/
The complete piano works of Chopin: http://www.amazon.com/Chopin-Complete-Works-Box-Set/dp/B000MM1EME/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1241455820&sr=8-1
A leather-bound copy of The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux: http://cgi.ebay.com/Easton-Press-PHANTOM-OF-THE-OPERA-by-LEROUX-SEALED_W0QQitemZ360152235828QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAntiquarian_Collectible?hash=item53dabeff34&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50
Spain actually had their Mother's Day this past Sunday, the 3rd. Are there other holidays like this? Celebrated one day in one country and a different day in another?
ReplyDeleteI meant specifically other French celebrated holidays :).
ReplyDeletehaha, if only i had the money to get my mom those things.
ReplyDeleteWow, you have quite the list there, Miss Jane!! Hopefully my mother will be satisfied with a card and a phone call!! (:
ReplyDeleteHehe, maybe you could drop some hints to your family by sending seemingly random e-mails about each of those items and then commenting about Mother's day.:) Somewhat obvious, but it may work.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me that I'm supposed to cook dinner for my mom on Sunday. :)
ReplyDeleteThis sort of answers Jacquelynn's comment above, actually, but Labor/Labour Day is like that. A great number of countries celebrate it on May 1, but as you know, some (such as the US and Canada) celebrate it in September. :)
I'm sure there are other holidays as well that we share with Western Europe but observe on different days.
ReplyDeleteCommenting on the podcast #2: I love that you did a dictation. My students need practice with that. Maybe I'll send them to your blog! Can we have some more?
ReplyDeleteAvec plaisir!
ReplyDeleteThat reminds me, I need to get something for my mum...
ReplyDeleteahhhh dilatory.....I need something for mother's day I completely forgot!!!!! Eeeek....maybe I'll get her the bread thing for a year lol (I will be moving back home for a while, maybe I can enjoy it too)
ReplyDelete