https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from France in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed French bakeries sold crusty baguettes and flaky croissants with government backing Friday, defying labour unions arguing that May 1 should remain a sacred day of compulsory rest. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260501/baguettes-take-centre-stage-on-frances-labour-day Fri, 01 May 2026 16:42:14 +0200 baguettes-take-centre-stage-on-frances-labour-day May 1st in France isn’t just a celebration of workers’ rights, it’s also tied to a floral tradition. But with climate change causing the 'muguets' to bloom earlier, the flowers may no longer be in bloom for May Day celebrations. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260423/climate-change-threatens-frances-lucky-may-flower Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:04:36 +0200 climate-change-threatens-frances-lucky-may-flower When getting a haircut in France as a foreigner, there is always the fear of using one or two phrases incorrectly, and accidentally asking the hairdresser to shave your head. https://www.thelocal.fr/20220601/the-need-to-know-vocab-for-getting-a-haircut-in-france Wed, 01 Jun 2022 12:38:12 +0200 the-need-to-know-vocab-for-getting-a-haircut-in-france French MPs will this week debate a bill that would allow some people to work on May 1st - the public holiday marking International Workers' Day. However, it's already proving controversial. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260408/explained-frances-proposed-new-law-for-working-on-may-1st Wed, 08 Apr 2026 12:47:53 +0200 explained-frances-proposed-new-law-for-working-on-may-1st You might not have thought about it too much as you enjoyed an extra day off work, but it is perhaps unexpected that France - proudly secular since 1905 - has so many public holidays based around Catholic festivals. https://www.thelocal.fr/20220816/reader-question-why-does-secular-france-have-catholic-holidays Tue, 16 Aug 2022 15:49:00 +0200 reader-question-why-does-secular-france-have-catholic-holidays If you are in France on Good Friday, you will notice two things - first this isn't a public holiday for (most of) the country; second, the church bells are silent. Here's why. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260403/explained-the-french-easter-legend-of-the-flying-bells Fri, 03 Apr 2026 10:29:19 +0200 explained-the-french-easter-legend-of-the-flying-bells Despite many other Christian festivals being public holidays in France, Good Friday is not a day off for the majority of the country. Here's why. https://www.thelocal.fr/20190419/good-friday-why-only-some-people-are-on-holiday-in-france-today Fri, 19 Apr 2019 08:19:05 +0200 good-friday-why-only-some-people-are-on-holiday-in-france-today Paris streets have recently been invaded by mysterious signs showing Canadian singer Celine Dion's lyrics, driving her fans into a frenzy - so why do the French love her so much? https://www.thelocal.fr/20260326/why-do-the-french-love-celine-dion-so-much Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:40:40 +0100 why-do-the-french-love-celine-dion-so-much Most visitors to Paris like to see famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower - but there's a new travel trend among tourists, a trip to the pharmacy. https://www.thelocal.fr/20230816/french-pharmacies-become-new-must-see-travel-tip-for-american-tourists Wed, 16 Aug 2023 16:04:06 +0200 french-pharmacies-become-new-must-see-travel-tip-for-american-tourists The results are in for the first round of voting in local elections and - as expected - there are some close races in the big cities, meaning that it all comes down to second-round alliances. Here's how these work. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260309/explained-the-crucial-election-alliances-that-shape-french-elections Mon, 09 Mar 2026 16:42:27 +0100 explained-the-crucial-election-alliances-that-shape-french-elections There are 35,000 mayors in France, and half of them oversee villages of fewer than 500 people. But what powers do they have and why are they so vital to the functioning of the French state? https://www.thelocal.fr/20180724/explained-what-powers-do-french-mayors-have Tue, 24 Jul 2018 08:57:47 +0200 explained-what-powers-do-french-mayors-have The north-east France area of Alsace-Lorraine has a special exemption to a number of French laws, as well as having more public holidays per year - here's why. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260312/why-does-north-east-france-have-different-laws-and-more-holidays Thu, 12 Mar 2026 15:27:14 +0100 why-does-north-east-france-have-different-laws-and-more-holidays Obviously the weather gets warmer, evenings get longer and flowers start to bloom, as they do in all northern hemisphere countries, but there are also some peculiarly French signs that spring has arrived. https://www.thelocal.fr/20240320/10-signs-spring-has-arrived-in-france Wed, 20 Mar 2024 17:28:38 +0100 10-signs-spring-has-arrived-in-france Unlike some countries, Friday the 13th is regarded as particularly lucky in France - but that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of other superstitions about things that will allegedly bring you bad fortune. https://www.thelocal.fr/20180713/french-superstitions-customs-culture Fri, 13 Jul 2018 11:58:07 +0200 french-superstitions-customs-culture As French ski resorts prepare for the February peak season, The Local looks at the regulations for skiiers in France. https://www.thelocal.fr/20251104/do-skiers-and-snowboarders-have-to-wear-helmets-on-french-slopes Tue, 04 Nov 2025 12:17:18 +0100 do-skiers-and-snowboarders-have-to-wear-helmets-on-french-slopes It's not uncommon for French prosecutors to launch investigations into people or businesses - but what jurisdiction do French courts have over those outside France? https://www.thelocal.fr/20240814/what-jurisdiction-do-french-courts-have-over-people-outside-france Wed, 14 Aug 2024 16:52:21 +0200 what-jurisdiction-do-french-courts-have-over-people-outside-france It's La Chandeleur on Monday - the day when France goes pancake mad. Before you start cooking up your crêpes, take a moment to learn about the history (and superstitions) surrounding this French tradition. https://www.thelocal.fr/20200202/why-do-the-french-eat-crepes-on-le-chandeleur Sun, 02 Feb 2020 06:05:42 +0100 why-do-the-french-eat-crepes-on-le-chandeleur It might seem obvious, crêpes are sweet and galettes are savoury, right? But if you're in Brittany, things get a lot more complicated. https://www.thelocal.fr/20260130/crepe-or-galette-the-breton-debate-brittany Fri, 30 Jan 2026 11:44:30 +0100 crepe-or-galette-the-breton-debate-brittany From pig-squealing competitions to men in bear suits, via the 'world championship of seagull impressions', these are some of France's most bizarre traditional festivals. https://www.thelocal.fr/20221205/bears-lemons-and-pig-squealing-9-of-frances-strangest-festivals Mon, 05 Dec 2022 11:05:13 +0100 bears-lemons-and-pig-squealing-9-of-frances-strangest-festivals In most of France, the winter sales start on Wednesday, January 7th — here’s what you need to know about the sales season, including your consumer rights before you hit the stores in search of bargains. https://www.thelocal.fr/20251223/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-2026-winter-sales-in-france Tue, 23 Dec 2025 11:58:13 +0100 everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-2026-winter-sales-in-france