Here Comes Peter Cotton Tail...

You may be a tad surprised to hear that, in addition to a differing language and taste palate, France holds another cultural difference: holiday celebration! A few weeks ago, fun-fiesta-time struck again! While I have experienced Valentines day in France (don't get you're hopes up - this holiday is viewed in an even more cynical light than it is in the US, thus my queue of francophone suitors was a tad stunted), Easter turned out to be the big eyeopener on holiday celebration divergence.

As all things do, this holiday involves food! I'll spare you the delicious details, but let's just go ahead and say that eggs don't even take a part in the feast! Boiled asperagus and flan - as pictured below - generally steal the show, but only with theguest appearance of HOG'S HEAD. Yep. You heard me - I tried hog's head!! To be honest, I was moderately horrified upon staring down the un-taxidermied beast after a full meal (the delicacy is generally served as an after dinner palate cleanser), but upon inspection, I have found myself to be a tentative fan of this atypical dish!

For the holiday celebration, Jean-Yves sisters and niece came for the weekend (From the left: my host-cousin Leonie, host aunt Marie-Claude and host aunty Isabelle)

In addition to the contrast of menus, France does have one other prominent difference from the US where Easter is concerened: it's Easter bunny. In fact, I shouldn't even call it an Easter Bunny, because, while the USA glorifies a fluffy rodent as the harbringer of chocolate goodies, in France, it is a churchbell who delivers the loot!

I would comment on the impracticality of this myth (mythical flying bells with consciousness detatched from their chapels delivering chocolate eggs) but hey, is an imortal rabbit (who doesn't eat all the food in his possession) any more believable? But hey, to each culture it's own fantasy! I hope you all have had a lovely Easter filled with family, chocolate and (depending on personal preference) bunnies or bells!