French Holidays & Traditions

Book excerpt: If you are intrigued by French culture and curious about the history behind French traditions, this book is for you. In it, you'll find a selection of short stories, written in a lively style, which often reveal little-known, but always fascinating facts about French customs. Would you like to know: Why people have fish on their backs on April 1st? How the Bastille was taken down? Who collects teeth from under children's pillows? Which sport honours the memory of a girl called Fanny? You will discover the fascinating stories behind these and other French traditions. French Holidays & Traditions is made up of twelve chapters - one for each month of the year, and each chapter contains one or two stories. These stories might relate to a holiday observed during that month, or they could relate to a tradition, which may not be associated with any particular date. Then, at the end of each chapter, you will find a list of holidays and observances for that month. A handy reference for a monthly dose of French culture."