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 Pentecost is a public holiday in France, but not everyone gets the day off. Instead some people will be given the attractive option of working as usual but without being paid. https://www.thelocal.fr/20190610/what-is-the-french-public-holiday-where-you-may-have-to-work-with-no-pay Mon, 10 Jun 2019 08:41:33 +0200 what-is-the-french-public-holiday-where-you-may-have-to-work-with-no-pay We can explain this. But you might think we’re joking… https://www.thelocal.fr/20220323/reader-question-can-you-explain-frances-poisson-davril-tradition Wed, 23 Mar 2022 14:00:17 +0100 reader-question-can-you-explain-frances-poisson-davril-tradition Some countries have just four seasons, but those lucky enough to live in France have a dizzying array of different 'seasons' defined by food, drink, dress and festivals. Here is our guide to the real seasons of France. https://www.thelocal.fr/20211021/oysters-to-firemens-balls-frances-cultural-calendar Thu, 21 Oct 2021 14:02:36 +0200 oysters-to-firemens-balls-frances-cultural-calendar French families mark the end of the festive season by scoffing down a pastry fit for kings. Here's the story of the Galette des Rois - a tart that had a lot of fun rituals with it. https://www.thelocal.fr/20200105/the-galette-des-rois Sun, 05 Jan 2020 22:17:37 +0100 the-galette-des-rois The scent of marzipan wafts through the air as confectioners from a century-old company in southern France prepare calissons, one of Provence’s famed sweets made of candied melon and crushed almonds. https://www.thelocal.fr/20251205/french-almond-makers-revive-traditions-to-counter-us-dominance Fri, 05 Dec 2025 09:49:19 +0100 french-almond-makers-revive-traditions-to-counter-us-dominance The French Post Office on Friday released a scratch-and-sniff postage stamp to celebrate the world-famous baguette. The ink used on the stamps contains microcapsules which provide the fragrance. https://www.thelocal.fr/20240518/french-post-office-rolls-out-baguette-stamp-with-scratch-and-sniff-microcapsules Sat, 18 May 2024 10:13:18 +0200 french-post-office-rolls-out-baguette-stamp-with-scratch-and-sniff-microcapsules From art and culture to sport and activities, food and drink to festivals, France has such a dizzying range of things to do that it can be hard to pick. Here's a selection of personal favourites that French residents or visitors to France really should try. https://www.thelocal.fr/20210707/19-things-you-should-do-in-france-at-least-once Wed, 07 Jul 2021 14:29:54 +0200 19-things-you-should-do-in-france-at-least-once Tens of thousands dressed up in sometimes madcap outfits, dancing in the streets and catching herrings outside the town hall: France's northern seaside city of Dunkirk is revelling in its increasingly popular annual carnival. https://www.thelocal.fr/20240212/frances-dunkirk-relishes-annual-big-mess-of-carnival Mon, 12 Feb 2024 18:55:24 +0100 frances-dunkirk-relishes-annual-big-mess-of-carnival In France, Sunday, February 2nd means eating lots of crêpes and really hoping it doesn't rain. https://www.thelocal.fr/20190201/la-chandeleur-the-day-the-french-go-crazy-over-crepes-and-superstitions Fri, 01 Feb 2019 17:55:27 +0100 la-chandeleur-the-day-the-french-go-crazy-over-crepes-and-superstitions In France the winter sales period begins Wednesday, January 10th and is regulated by the government. Here's what else you need to know. https://www.thelocal.fr/20240102/what-you-need-to-know-about-frances-2024-winter-sales Tue, 02 Jan 2024 10:43:25 +0100 what-you-need-to-know-about-frances-2024-winter-sales The Elysee palace in Paris, home to the French presidency, said Sunday it will bring back a public changing of the guard ceremony, 27 years after it was last held. https://www.thelocal.fr/20231105/frances-elysee-palace-to-bring-back-public-changing-of-guard Sun, 05 Nov 2023 14:39:48 +0100 frances-elysee-palace-to-bring-back-public-changing-of-guard The official aperitif or apéro is a much-loved pillar of French culture. https://www.thelocal.fr/20181003/france-french-evening-prayer-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-apro Wed, 03 Oct 2018 10:42:57 +0200 france-french-evening-prayer-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-apro If you are celebrating the New Year in France's capital, here is what you can expect - from fireworks to police presence and road closures. https://www.thelocal.fr/20221230/fireworks-police-and-weather-what-to-expect-from-new-years-eve-in-paris-in-2023 Fri, 30 Dec 2022 16:03:49 +0100 fireworks-police-and-weather-what-to-expect-from-new-years-eve-in-paris-in-2023 Celebrating New Year's Eve in France can be lots of fun, but laws regarding public safety and order still apply amid the celebrations. Here are the rules you should be aware of. https://www.thelocal.fr/20221229/the-rules-to-be-aware-of-when-celebrating-new-years-eve-in-france Thu, 29 Dec 2022 14:54:42 +0100 the-rules-to-be-aware-of-when-celebrating-new-years-eve-in-france The one day a year where your neighbours cannot be mad at you for blasting the music, and where everyone across France gets their groove on - here is what you need to know about the Fête de la musique. https://www.thelocal.fr/20220616/five-things-to-know-about-frances-fete-de-la-musique Thu, 16 Jun 2022 16:59:23 +0200 five-things-to-know-about-frances-fete-de-la-musique French President Emmanuel Macron invited music fans to a socially distanced techno party at the presidential palace on Monday, reviving a pre-Covid event to mark the country's annual street music festival. https://www.thelocal.fr/20210622/in-pictures-france-marks-annual-street-music-party-including-a-rave-at-the-elysee Tue, 22 Jun 2021 10:41:31 +0200 in-pictures-france-marks-annual-street-music-party-including-a-rave-at-the-elysee A food company from Brittany has come up with an inventive product that gives a new twist to one of the country's most sacred cheeses. But will the French turn their noses up at it? https://www.thelocal.fr/20180314/french-break-with-food-tradition-by-inventing-grated-camembert Wed, 14 Mar 2018 14:42:28 +0100 french-break-with-food-tradition-by-inventing-grated-camembert A new survey has revealed just how much longer the French spend eating and drinking compared to Americans. And that's not the only way the two cultures differ in terms of their food habits. https://www.thelocal.fr/20180313/french-spend-twice-as-long-eating-and-drinking-as-americans Tue, 13 Mar 2018 16:30:57 +0100 french-spend-twice-as-long-eating-and-drinking-as-americans Agonising over whether to go home for Christmas this year? To make it easier for you we've put together this festive face-off to decide once and for all who does Christmas better, the French or the Anglos. https://www.thelocal.fr/20141204/the-french-anglo-christmas-face-off-who-does-it-better Thu, 04 Dec 2014 14:34:00 +0100 the-french-anglo-christmas-face-off-who-does-it-better Frogs’ legs have been a source of amusement and stereotyping of the French for countless years, but an archaeological dig near Stonehenge in England made a startling discovery this week: The Brits were scoffing them long before the French - 8,000 years earlier in fact. https://www.thelocal.fr/20131016/brits-ate-frogs-legs-before-french-scientists Wed, 16 Oct 2013 11:38:00 +0200 brits-ate-frogs-legs-before-french-scientists