The following article lists some simple, informative tips that will help you have a better experience with France Holidays.

The Roman Catholic Church celebrates February 2 each year as Candlemas. This celebration is a commemoration of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s purification and the presentation of the baby Jesus at the temple. The feast is also called by other names: “Feast of the Presentation of Jesus,” “Meeting of the Lord,” and “Feast of the Purification of the Virgin.”

France, being a predominantly Roman Catholic country, also observes this feast on February 2, which is forty days after Christmas. There are three French terms for the occasion: “Jour des crêpes” (crêpes have real signification in this occasion), “Fête de la Lumière” (different from the Festival of Lights in Lyon), and “La Chandeleur” (the most commonly used of the three terms).

The term “Candlemas” was derived from the Latin ritual of lighting candles at midnight to symbolize purification. The original event involved the observance of the Holy Family (Joseph, the Virgin Mary, and the baby Jesus) of the rite as described in Chapters 21 to 24 of the Second Book of Luke. In part, the rite required that a mother must present her firstborn boy to the Lord forty days after birth. An offering of two doves must accompany the presentation.

The French celebration of La Chandeleur as a commemoration of the purification of the Virgin Mary first occurred in 1372. The term “Fête de la Lumière” refers to the lighting of blessed candles as a form of remembering Jesus Christ who is the “Light of the World.” This lighting of blessed candles at homes for protection continues to this day in France.

In relation to why La Chandeleur is also called Jour des crêpes, the French pray for good harvest and prosperity for every home and family. All excess flour is used to make crêpes. These pancakes are a symbol of prosperity in France. Farmers believe that wheat will grow better if many crêpes are made. Turning the celebration into a sort of revelry, children engage in crêpe-throwing games during this day.

Is everything making sense so far? If not, I’m sure that with just a little more reading, all the facts will fall into place.

One of the French traditions during La Chandeleur goes this way: People clutch a coin in the hand which they use for writing; with the other hand, they hold a pan with a crêpe in it. They toss the crêpe in the air and try to catch it back into the pan. If they’re successful, they wrap the coin with the crêpe. This is then brought in the bedroom and placed on top of the cupboard. The way by which this is done is similar to a procession, with the participation of all members of the family. The following year, the coin is given to the poor. This entire ritual is believed to bring good fortune and prosperity to the family for the whole year.

Fortune telling, while making crêpes, is also a tradition during La Chandeleur. In addition, French proverbs pertaining to the occasion come out prominently during this day. Some examples are given below:

? “On la Chandeleur, the day grows by two hours.”

? “On la Chandeleur, winter comes to an end or becomes stronger.”

? “On la Chandeleur, everything is covered with snow and forty days are lost.”

Crêpes certainly are an important part of the French celebration of Candlemas. One reason for this is that crêpes, to the French, symbolize the sun, which seems to be absent in their lives during this time of the year.

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By Anders Eriksson, proud owner of this top ranked web hosting reseller site: GVO

In today’s world, it seems that almost any topic is open for debate. While I was gathering facts for this article, I was quite surprised to find some of the issues I thought were settled are actually still being openly discussed.

One of the most important feasts in the Christian liturgical year is the Pentecost. It is celebrated 7 weeks (50 days to be exact) following Easter and falls on the tenth day following Ascension Thursday. Pentecost is also called by other names, such as “Whitsun”, “Whit Sunday”, or “”Whitsuntide”, depending on which country one is in.

In France, Pentecost (Pentecôte in French) is one of religious holidays, which is observed with people attending special church services. Some are baptized (or baptized anew) in churches during this day. French Christians observe on this day the descent of the Holy Spirit onto the followers of Jesus Christ. A tradition followed during the Divine Service is the blowing of trumpets, symbolizing the sound of the wind that accompanied the Holy Spirit’s descent.

Because Pentecôte always falls on a Sunday, most people in France celebrate the holiday like any other Sunday. Some families just stay at home while others go to parks. In any case, family members and friends get together on this day and have special meals.

And as on other Sundays, it is generally quiet in public places in France during Pentecost. Banks, shops, stores, and other businesses are closed on this day. Even those museums that are usually open on a Sunday may likewise be closed on this day.

The more authentic information about France Holidays you know, the more likely people are to consider you a France Holidays expert. Read on for even more France Holidays facts that you can share.

The day after Pentecost, France celebrates another public holiday – Lundi de Pentecôte (Pentecost Monday or Whit Monday). This day, however, is not celebrated by the French with the same religious significance as they do the Pentecost. Most people quietly observe the holiday with families and close friends.

Parks and countrysides in France are usually full of people on Whit Monday; they can be seen here enjoying a picnic lunch. In some villages and towns, cultural and sporting events are held on this day.

Actually, France observed Whit Monday as a public holiday until 2005, when it was replaced by another holiday. This was the French government’s way of raising funds to financially support the elderly and those with disabilities, a move conceived after the tragic death of some 15,000 elderly people caused by a heat wave in the summer of 2003.

The French government’s cancellation of Whit Monday as a public holiday meant that workers rendered services on this day with no pay. Their wages were instead collected and used to assist people with disabilities and the elderly. Workers, however, began to air their grievances against this move and held a series of demonstrations to force the government to repeal it. Eventually, Whit Monday was reinstated as a public holiday in 2008, with the government introducing other measures in order to keep its earlier commitment as explained.

Again like during the Pentecost or any other public holiday, Whit Monday in France means a day when public life practically comes to a halt. Almost all businesses, shops, and stores are closed. Some stores in Paris as well as in airports and at railway stations may be open though. Public transport service schedules may also be irregular or different on this day.

As your knowledge about France Holidays continues to grow, you will begin to see how France Holidays fits into the overall scheme of things. Knowing how something relates to the rest of the world is important too.

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The following article covers a topic that has recently moved to center stage–at least it seems that way. If you’ve been thinking you need to know more about it, here’s your opportunity.

France celebrates New Year on January 1 like many other countries do. The beginning of a new year, which is “le Jour de l’An” in French, is a highly anticipated occasion that is observed with festivities. Among these is the customary holding of a feast, referred to as “le Réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre”.

The term “la Saint-Sylvestre” actually refers to New Year’s Eve (December 31). Hence, the le Réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre feast is a grand celebration the French host to mark the closing of an old year and the birth of another. Special dishes, such as foie gras (fattened goose liver), are aplenty during this time; so are various kinds of drinks including the very popular sparkling white wine “champagne” and the equally famous hot wine “vin chaud”. At the stroke of midnight, family members and friends kiss under “le gui” (the mistletoe).

Fireworks are common, especially on the streets of Paris. These have become an important part of the New Year celebration in this city, which is helped a lot by the fact that fireworks are legally sold and bought here.

The celebration can be a simple get-together of family members over dinner or a more extravagant formal gathering of families and friends called “une soiree” (literally, an evening gathering). Traditional activities include exchanging of “les etrennes” (New Year’s gifts) and even of “une bonne resolution” (New Year’s resolutions). People greet each other excitedly on the streets, give greeting cards and other goodies, all meant to usher in a prosperous new year.

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In Bordeaux and other cities and villages in southwest France, people hear mass in the evening and join the torchlight procession that ends in the vineyards, where people pick grapes and enjoy some mulled wine. In the southern city of Avignon, the famous “Illuminations Tour and Dinner” is a fully-booked activity at this time.

Festivities in the capital city of Paris are held with the participation of thousands of entertainers, singers and dancers. These festivities, actually a two-day parade, go through several streets, proceed through the city’s metropolitan area of Chantilly on December 31, and end at the Champ de Mars (right under the Eiffel Tower) the following day (January 1).

New Year songs are heard all over, such as “Choral des Adieux”, the equivalent of the Scottish poem-turned-folk song “Auld Lang Syne”. Two other songs popularly sung during this occasion are “Toast pour le nouvel An” (“Toast to the New Year”) and “La chanson du Nouvel-An” (“Song of the New Year”).

Taking a cruise has become a popular way of celebrating New Year in France of late. Cruise choices (reservations should be made at least one month before New Year) include tours of the canals and rivers of France, a tour of the northern part of the country on the Seine beginning at Paris and ending at Normandy (this is ideal for couples), or of the southern part on the Saone and Rhone starting at Lyon and terminating at Provence.

The conclusion of all celebrations of le Jour de l’An is on the feast of the Epiphany (January 6). Here, a special cake, called “la galette des rois” (king’s cake) is cut and shared among family members and friends.

There’s a lot to understand about France Holidays. We were able to provide you with some of the facts above, but there is still plenty more to write about in subsequent articles.

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By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO

When you think about France Holidays, what do you think of first? Which aspects of France Holidays are important, which are essential, and which ones can you take or leave? You be the judge.

France has eleven public holidays (not counting Easter and Pentecost, both of which of course fall on a Sunday), five sets of school breaks, and a lengthy summer vacation. Any of these is an opportunity for people to relax and enjoy the company of family members and close friends.

A great way for completely enjoying the holidays in France is to leave the comfort of your homes and go on a long trip to some scenic destinations. Some of the country’s national parks can be good choices for such a holiday adventure. Here are five of them:

Parc national des Pyrénées:

The Pyrénées National Park is a 457-square kilometer national park located within the departments of Pyrénées-Atlantiques and Hautes-Pyrénées in the southwestern part of France. Its creation was completed on March 23, 1967. The park is famous for its mountainous landscape, making it ideal for skiing, hiking, and, of course, mountain climbing. For those with special interest in wildlife, some seventy different species of animals can be observed roaming the park freely.

Parc national des Cévennes:

The Cévennes National Park is a 913-square kilometer national park located within the departments of Gard and Lozère in southern France. It was opened to visitors on September 2, 1970. The park includes two features which are mainly the reasons why this park is one of the most visited tourist destinations in France. These are the Aven Armand cave and the Arboretum de Cazebonne. The latter has a number of exotic trees and several hiking paths.

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Parc national des Écrins:

The Écrins National Park is a 918-square kilometer national park located in the southeastern part of the country. It was opened to visitors on March 27, 1973. The park is famous for a number of features, including glacier fields, high mountain peaks, and alpine pastures. More than half a million tourists from around the world visit the park every year.

Parc national de la Vanoise:

The Vanoise National Park is a 1,250-square kilometer national park located in the Alps. It was completed and opened to visitors on July 6, 1963. Some of the villages adjacent to the park include Champagny-le-Bas, La Cuaz, and La Chiserette. Large ski resorts, including Tignes, Les Arcs, and Les Trois Vallées, border the park.

Parc national du Mercantour:

The Mercantour National Park is a 685-square kilometer national park located within the departments of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Alpes-Maritimes. It was opened to visitors on August 18, 1979. The park consists of twenty-eight villages and seven uninhabited valleys, namely Bévéra, Haut Var/Cians, Roya, Tinée, Ubaye, Verdon, and Vésubie. The park’s great flora and fauna make it really ideal for relaxation.

In addition to these, there are about fifty regional natural parks in France, each of which is an equally great vacation place during the holidays. Ten of these are mentioned here: Parc naturel régional Scarpe-Escaut, Parc naturel régional de Brière, Parc naturel régional de la Forêt d’Orient, Parc naturel régional des Grands Causses, Parc naturel régional de Millevaches en Limousin, Parc naturel régional de la Narbonnaise en Méditerranée, Parc naturel régional Périgord Limousin, Parc naturel régional de la Brenne, Parc naturel régional du Haut-Jura, and Parc naturel régional du Luberon.

Now that wasn’t hard at all, was it? And you’ve earned a wealth of knowledge, just from taking some time to study an expert’s word on France Holidays.

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By Anders Eriksson, proud owner of this top ranked web hosting reseller site: GVO

Do you ever feel like you know just enough about France Holidays to be dangerous? Let’s see if we can fill in some of the gaps with the latest info from France Holidays experts.

Each year, there are eleven holidays celebrated in France (French term: jours feriés). These exclude Easter (Pâques) and Pentecost (Pentecôte), which, of course, both fall on a Sunday and are therefore nonworking days.

The eleven French holidays consist of eight that are celebrated on fixed dates and three observed on movable dates. The latter are Christian feasts or holy days observed on dates in relation to when Easter (itself a movable feast) falls. These movable holidays are Lundi de Pâques (Easter Monday; the day after Easter), Ascension (Ascension Day; the Thursday forty days from Easter), and Lundi de Pentecôte (Whit Monday; the day after Pentecost, which is observed on the Sunday fifty days from Easter).

The eight fixed-dated French holidays are Le Jour de l’An (New Year’s Day, January 1), Fête du Travail (Labor Day, May 1), Victoire 1945 (Victory in Europe Day, May 8), Fête Nationale (Bastille Day, July 14), Assomption de Marie (Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, August 15), Toussaint (All Saints’ Day, November 1), Armistice 1918 (Armistice Day, November 11), and Noël (Christmas Day, December 25).

In addition to these, there are lengthy school holidays in France which are divided into five sets and distributed in three zones. The five sets of school holidays are Toussaint break (twelve-day break beginning around the latter part of the third week of October, within which All Saints’ Day falls), Noel-Le Jour de l’An break (fifteen-day Christmas/New Year holiday break, from December 20 to January 4), Hiver break (fifteen-day break beginning in February, when winter is at its peak), Printemps break (fifteen-day spring break beginning usually on Good Friday), and L’ete holidays (two-month summer vacation from beginning of July to beginning of September).

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The school holidays (particularly the hiver and printemps breaks), in turn, are staggered into fifteen-day periods depending on where a school is located. For this purpose, the French Ministry of Education has divided the country into three zones.

In the month of May alone, a holiday is celebrated almost every week. When France is on a holiday, everything practically comes to a halt. This is because the French take their holidays very seriously. A holiday in France is not something that is turned into a commercial opportunity. For example, businesses, stores, shops, museums, post offices, and banks are closed during a holiday.

During lengthy holidays, such as those mentioned earlier, these business establishments may be closed for as long as the holiday is in effect. Those planning to visit France for a vacation are always advised to be aware of the dates of the French holidays in order to avoid any unexpected difficulties. They should make advance arrangements with hotels, restaurants, or museums to know whether these will be open or not during a particular holiday.

During or around a public holiday, train stations and roads in major cities in France become very busy. The situation is compounded by the tradition of service unions (those working in railroad and public transport companies) going on strike during a holiday. These certainly cause traffic disruptions and public transport service schedules become irregular as a result of such disruptions.

The months of July and August, in which the long summer vacation falls, is a period not generally recommended for those wishing to visit France. French law allows every citizen to have a five-week vacation, so almost everyone use the summer period for this. The whole of France is practically on every road, railroad, seaway, and airway during this period.

As your knowledge about France Holidays continues to grow, you will begin to see how France Holidays fits into the overall scheme of things. Knowing how something relates to the rest of the world is important too.

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By Anders Eriksson, proud owner of this top ranked web hosting reseller site: GVO

Have you ever wondered if what you know about France Holidays is accurate? Consider the following paragraphs and compare what you know to the latest info on France Holidays.

Traveling to France when schools are on holiday may not be a good idea. This is because tourist resorts are teeming with vacationers during this period that one has to fight (figuratively, of course) for space. The Mediterranean coast and the more than 200 ski resorts are particularly crowded, often translating to lodging shortages.

This being the case, it is important to know when schools in France are closed. Note the following five sets of school holidays in a year (the French school calendar year starts in early September):

1. Toussaint break – This is a 12-day school break, in observance of All Saints’ Day, that usually begins around the latter part of the third week of October.

2. Noel-Le Jour de l’An break – Schools are closed for 15 days for the Christmas/New Year holidays, from December 20 to January 4. This is the period when ski resorts in France “overflow” with people and finding a vacant hotel room is next to impossible.

3. Hiver break – Another 15-day school break that begins in February, when winter is typically at its peak.

4. Printemps break – This is also known as the spring break, which coincides with Easter (Paques). Schools are closed for 15 days, beginning usually two days prior to Easter.

5. L’ete holidays – This is the 2-month long summer vacation, when all schools are closed from the beginning of July to the beginning of September. This period is certainly not a good time for tourists to visit France for the reasons earlier mentioned.

Besides these sets of school holidays, those planning a trip to France must also know that the French Ministry of Education had the schedules of the hiver and printemps breaks staggered by dividing France into three zones:

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Zone A:

This zone covers the schools located in Toulouse, Nantes, Montpellier, Grenoble, Caen, Rennes, Nancy-Metz, Lyon, and Clermont-Ferrand.

Zone B:

The schools included in this zone are those located in Strasbourg, Reims, Orleans-Tours, Limoges, Dijon, Amiens, Rouen, Poitiers, Nice, Lille, Besancon, and Aix-Marseille.

Zone C:

This third zone includes schools in Versailles, Bordeaux, Créteil, and those in the capital city of Paris.

These zones specify when a school at a particular location will have its winter and spring breaks. As you take a look at your maps, you will note that the locations that comprise each zone do not make up a contiguous area. This was deliberately done in order that there will be an even distribution of holiday goers in resorts at any given period.

The effect of the zoning is another thing to be considered. What this means is that while the hiver and printemps breaks are 15-day periods as far as schools are concerned, the schedules of the zones overlap with one another, such that the length of each break is effectively stretched into one month. This matter has to be taken into account by a would-be visitor to France and avoided if possible.

The months of May and June are probably the best times for anyone to visit France while at the same time avoiding the lengthy school holidays, as the weather during this two-month period is perfect. Others may say though that this period, in fact, contains numerous holidays. These, however, are just one-day holidays and, except for Fête du Travail (Labor Day, May 1) and Victoire 1945 (Victory in Europe Day, May 8), have moveable dates.

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This article explains a few things about France Holidays, and if you’re interested, then this is worth reading, because you can never tell what you don’t know.

The Armistice Day is one of thirteen holidays observed in France. It is celebrated every year on November 11. The term “armistice”, which is synonymous to the word “truce”, means “the temporary suspension of hostilities by agreement between the opposing forces. So what exactly is France observing during the Armistice Day?

On November 11, 1918, at 11:00 a.m., the two opposing forces of World War I – the Allies and Germany – signed a truce for the ceasing of all military actions in the Western Front, which stretched from Belgium to the northeastern portion of France. The Allies were composed of military forces from France, the United States, Belgium, Brazil, Italy, Portugal, the then Russian Empire, and the United Kingdom (as well as the British Empire then consisted of Australia, Canada, India, Newfoundland, New Zealand, and South Africa). Germany had Austria/Hungary and the then Ottoman Empire fighting on its side.

The momentous event, famous for its triple 11 mark (for the hour, day, and month the armistice was signed), signaled the end of World War I, which started on July 28, 1914 with the German invasion of three European countries including France.

It is fitting that France observes this event every year not only because of its involvement in the war, but also because the armistice was signed at the city of Compiegne in that country. Likewise, the signing of the armistice was considered the last major victory of France in military and political conflicts.

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During this day, many villages in France hold commemorative ceremonies in honor of those who perished in the war. Visiting the graves of fallen soldiers is a tradition on this day. An interesting feature of the celebration is the decorating of the graves with flowers from the poppy plant (others simply wear the flower). This tradition is said to have been inspired by a line from a poem written in honor of the soldiers killed in the war.

For the war veterans, parades and such other activities appropriate for the occasion are held in their honor during this day.

In other countries (those that were parts of the Allies), the Armistice Day is called by other names. In the United States, for example, the day is referred to as “Veterans Day”, while in others it’s called “Remembrance Day”. Still others refer to the day as “Poppy Day”, in obvious reference to the memorial tradition as explained above.

While many countries, like France, observe Armistice Day on November 11 every year, other countries celebrate the event on different dates: New Zealand (the Friday before April 25, which is the Anzac Day); South Africa (the Saturday nearest to November 11); United Kingdom (second Sunday of November); and Italy (first Sunday of November). Countries that do observe Armistice Day on November 11 but not as a public holiday include Australia, Barbados, and the Republic of Ireland.

In France, as in other countries that observe Armistice Day, people pause for two minutes at 11 o’clock in the morning of November 11 (or of the date it is scheduled, as earlier mentioned) in honor of the millions of people – soldiers and civilians alike – who were killed in World War I, the “War (that was supposed) to End All Wars”.

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By Anders Eriksson, proud owner of this top ranked web hosting reseller site: GVO

So what is France Holidays really all about? The following report includes some fascinating information about France Holidays–info you can use, not just the old stuff they used to tell you.

In countries where the predominant religion is Roman Catholicism, no other celebration is perhaps more important than Easter. In France, for instance, where about ninety percent of the people are Roman Catholics, Easter is celebrated with great joy to commemorate the resurrection of Christ.

The celebration of Easter, or Pâques, in France actually begins on the Thursday prior to Good Friday (called Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday). On this day, no peals of church bells are heard in observance of Christ’s death. On Easter morning, church bells come to life once more to celebrate the Resurrection. Every city, town and village in France has a church, so the ringing of bells on Easter morning can be heard almost everywhere. The joyful significance of Pâques is especially evident when people kiss each other the moment they hear the ringing of church bells.

The morning of Pâques finds children waking up in glee, anticipating to find as much of “les oeufs de Pâques” (Easter eggs) as they can, which were hidden in playgrounds, gardens, or right inside homes a day or two before this day. Children are told by their parents of the connection between the church bells that are silent on Maundy Thursday, their ringing again on Easter morning, and the sudden appearance of Easter eggs.

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The story, as children are made to believe, goes this way: On Maundy Thursday, the chimes of church bells fly to Rome to pay visit to the Pope. They return on Easter morning joyfully ringing to signify their happiness for having seen the Pope. In their desire to share their joy to people, especially to children, they brought with them many beautifully colored eggs as gifts. Some children can get luckier than others – they uncover small chariots, pulled by little white horses, filled with multicolored eggs.

Traditional games played by French kids during Easter involve the use of raw eggs. In one game, children roll their eggs down a slope. The one whose egg survives the roll, or does not break or crack, is the winner. This particular game symbolizes the rolling away of the stone from the tomb of Jesus.

Although most shops are closed in France during holidays, confiseries, or candy shops, are open on Easter to provide delight to people who, regardless of age, feel so much joy just seeing candies and chocolates of all sizes, shapes, and designs. French chocolatiers take pride in their work that they put in so much time and effort to come up with delightful goodies. The results are items that appear more like works of art rather than foods. Everyone in France is sure to enjoy this aspect of Pâques because there is not one village there without a confiserie.

The Easter holidays in France actually fall within the fourth of five sets of school holidays, which is called the printemps, or spring, break. During this period, schools are closed for fifteen days, beginning on Maundy Thursday. Hence, Pâques is an opportunity for French families to be together, whether just at home or on short trips.

Is there really any information about France Holidays that is nonessential? We all see things from different angles, so something relatively insignificant to one may be crucial to another.

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In August of 2003, a scorching heat wave swept across Europe, claiming almost 15,000 lives in France alone. Most of the victims were elderly people and some with disabilities. Responding to this momentous tragic event, the French government, by way of a reform, made a commitment to raise money to financially support the elderly and persons with disabilities.

To support this drive, the government made an additional annual allocation of two billion euros for the benefit of the elderly and disabled through the Caisse Nationale de Solidarité Pour l’Autonomie (National Solidarity Fund for Autonomy). This is the first such reform in France, which was presented on November 6, 2003, that is funded not through increased taxes but through the concept of “workers solidarity”.

By this concept, the government has urged the citizens of France, specifically civil servants and employees, to show their support for the reform by rendering an extra day of service without pay. This extra day is referred to as “La Journée De Solidarité” (National Day of Solidarity). The wages that are supposed to be paid to workers on this day will instead be collected and put into the fund.

The selection of the date of the French National Day of Solidarity went through a process that considered the diverse regional and economic conditions of the country. This was necessary to ensure broad participation among workers in both the public and private sectors, thus giving justice to the term “solidarity”.

It was eventually decided that the French National Day of Solidarity be held on the same day as that of one of France’s public holidays – Whit Monday, or the day after Pentecost. This effectively cancelled Whit Monday’s being a public holiday (observed as such for more than a hundred years) and the day was converted into the rather odd status of a “working holiday”.

If you find yourself confused by what you’ve read to this point, don’t despair. Everything should be crystal clear by the time you finish.

For the elderly, the significance of this day is that their home life will be improved, retirement homes will be modernized, and medical care will be guaranteed. All these are possible through the more than 1 billion euros expected to be generated from this single day annually.

A separate fund of 800 million euros a year, likewise expected to be generated from the one-day “event”, will be used to aid persons with disabilities and enable them cope with extra expenses as a consequence of their condition.

In 2008, Whit Monday was restored as a public holiday after workers across the country staged a series of demonstrations in protest of the concept by which the French National Day of Solidarity was established (not the purpose for which it was created). Specifically, workers were against the idea of working for a day without being paid for it.

To maintain its commitment of supporting the elderly and the disabled, the French government turned to other fiscal measures. Also, an agreement was reached between and among the government, employers, and employees, significantly modifying the original concept of the reform. Under the agreement, the equivalent of 7 hours of unpaid work can be spread over a period of one week, a month, or even a year.

Today, France celebrates La Journée De Solidarité simultaneous with its observance of Whit Monday, with the day being a public holiday.

It never hurts to be well-informed with the latest on France Holidays. Compare what you’ve learned here to future articles so that you can stay alert to changes in the area of France Holidays.

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By Anders Eriksson, proud owner of this top ranked web hosting reseller site: GVO

When you’re learning about something new, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of relevant information available. This informative article should help you focus on the central points.

A special occasion celebrated in France is Beaujolais Nouveau Day. This occasion is celebrated on the third Thursday of November each year. On this day, wine lovers from around the world rush to France to have a taste of the Beaujolais Nouveau offered for the year.

What is Beaujolais Nouveau?

To begin, there is a region in France named Beaujolais. In this region, a purple-colored variety of grapes known as Gamay is grown. From these grapes are produced the most popular red wine, called Beaujolais Nouveau.

Beaujolais Nouveau is a nouveaux wine (also known as vin de primeur). A nouveux wine is a French wine granted certification under the Appellation d’origine contrôlée (controlled term of origin) to be released and marketed in the same year the grapes it’s made from are harvested. Beaujolais Nouveau is released and sold on the third Thursday of November, which is usually only a few weeks from the time the grapes were harvested. Thus, the day is referred to as Beaujolais Nouveau Day.

Nouveaux wines are distinctively paler in color. This is because of the very short time of maceration and fermentation the products go through. The wines are fruity, light bodied, and may contain some residual sugar.

Besides Beaujolais Nouveau, there are other equally famous nouveux wines. Depending on regulations (which region in France a wine is produced), a nouveaux wine may be red, rose, or white. Below are some of the most famous nouveux wines of France:

1. Anjou wine – White wine produced in the Loire Valley region.

2. Burgundy wine – Red or white wine produced in the Burgundy region. Red Burgundy wines are made from Pinot Noir grapes, while the white ones are from Chardonnay grapes.

3. Côtes de Bourg wine – White wine produced in the Bordeaux region.

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4. Muscadet wine – White wine produced in the Pays de la Loire region.

5. Saumur wine – White or red wine produced in the Loire Valley region. White Saumur wines are made from Chenin Blanc grapes, while the red ones are from Cabernet Franc grapes.

6. Tavel wine – Rose wine produced in the region of Rhône. It is made from either the Cinsault or Grenache grape varieties.

7. Corbières wine – Rose or white wine produced in the Languedoc-Roussillon region.

8. Minervois wine – Red wine made from Carignan grapes grown in the Languedoc-Roussillon region.

9. Bergerac wine – Red, rose, or white wine produced in southwest France.

10. Jurançon wine – White wine made from Courbu, Petit Manseng, or Gros Manseng grapes grown in southwest France.

11. Gaillac wine – Red, rose, or white wine produced in southwest France.

12. Côtes du Ventoux wine – Red, rose, or white wine produced in the region of Rhône. Red and rose Côtes du Ventoux wines are made from Cinsault, Carignan, Mourvèdre, or Syrah grapes. White Côtes du Ventoux wines are made from Bourboulenc, Clairette, or Grenache Blanc grapes.

Again because of the short processing time Beaujolais Nouveau and the other nouveaux wines go through, it is very likely that these were not exposed to any oak before their release to the market. Labels of all nouveaux wines need to show the words “nouveau” or “primeur” as per regulations.

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By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO