Today is a holiday here in France as it's La Fete de Toussaint.
The first of November is All Saints' Day. This Catholic (not Christian, since Protestants don't celebrate it) holiday is a holy day of obligation and a public holiday in France. Families come together and usually go to the cemetery to honor their deceased relatives and put chrysanthemums on their graves. In France, this is pretty much the only time of year that you see this flower, because it's associated with death here - people never give them as a gift!
The next day is All Souls' Day. In many countries, this is the day that people are supposed to go to the cemetery. But since 2 November isn't a public holiday, the French tend to go the day before.
The first of November is All Saints' Day. This Catholic (not Christian, since Protestants don't celebrate it) holiday is a holy day of obligation and a public holiday in France. Families come together and usually go to the cemetery to honor their deceased relatives and put chrysanthemums on their graves. In France, this is pretty much the only time of year that you see this flower, because it's associated with death here - people never give them as a gift!
The next day is All Souls' Day. In many countries, this is the day that people are supposed to go to the cemetery. But since 2 November isn't a public holiday, the French tend to go the day before.
The photo of the cemetery is so pretty. Diane
ReplyDeleteI was so grateful to our French teacher for telling us the significance of chrysanthemums and thereby saving us from a potentially embarrassing situation. I love them and frequently buy them to have at home, especially as they often last such a long time in the vase. But I could so easily have bought some as a well-meaning gift for our neighbour in France........I'm not sure how she would have taken it.
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