04/04/2026
Like the US, Easter is celebrated throughout France, but in a little bit different way.
The French celebrate Easter with a traditional Easter egg hunt (chasse aux oeufs), but don’t look for the Easter Bunny to bring the eggs on Easter morning. In France, large flying bells (cloches volantes) bring them!
You might be thinking, “Say what?” Well, here’s the story:
According to French lore, on Good Friday (vendredi saint), all the bells in France, grieved by Jesus’ death, miraculously sprout wings and fly to Rome to see the Pope (le pâpe). Because of this, all the church bells in France remain silent, beginning on Good Friday.
But on Easter Sunday, when Jesus is resurrected, the bells fly back to France, ringing joyfully and loudly, bringing with them chocolates for all the children!
The chasse aux oeufs is kicked off by an adult shouting “Les cloches sont passés!” (The bells have passed!).
The children then run about, looking for hidden chocolate treasures, which often are in the shape of eggs, baby chicks, hens, sheep, bells, hens, turtles, and of course, bunnies!
What are some of your Easter traditions?
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