Marianne, the national emblem of France, is an allegory of Liberty and Reason. She represents France as a state, and its values. She's been represented by Brigitte Bardot,
Catherine Deneuve,
Isabelle Adjani, Mireille Darc and Laetitia Casta among others.
In France, people eat approximately 500,000,000 snails per year.
Louis XIV of France really was as an unpleasant a fellow as he's been depicted. In 1674, when he was visiting a school at Clermont, he heard from the school's authorities that one of the children, a nine- year-old Irish lad named Francis Seldon, had made a pun about the king's bald head.
Louis was furious. He had a secret warrant drawn up for the child's arrest, and young Seldon was thrown into solitary confinement in the Bastille. His parents, members of one of Europe's richest merchant families, were told simply that the child had disappeared. Days turned to months, months to years, and Louis himself passed away. But Francis spent sixty-nine years "in the hole" for making fun of the king's baldness.
Meetings in France are to discuss issues, not to make decisions.
The first Public Toilet was constructed in Paris, France, in 1824.
In World War I A French aviatrix and nurse disguised herself and flew combat missions for several weeks before being discovered.
It’s considered bad manners to cut salad with a knife and fork. Fold the lettuce on to your fork.
About 650 people a year end up going to the hospital after slipping on dog doo.
The most popular TV show at one time was watched by all ages and ws the news reported by puppets.
What is called a “French kiss” in the English speaking world is known as an “English kiss” in France.
Flowers should be given in odd numbers but not 13, which is considered unlucky.
Some older French retain old-style prohibitions against receiving certain flowers: White lilies or chrysanthemums as they are used at funerals; red carnations as they symbolize bad will; any white flowers as they are used at weddings.
Gifts are usually opened when received.
It was illegal to sell ET dolls in France because there is a law against selling dolls without human faces.
Oh and regarding the murder rate France ranks # 40 in the world with 0.0173272 per 1,000 people
Cara - Tuesday
Re: French Kiss/English Kiss ... there's also the French Letter, known as an "English Overcoat" in France ... which reminds me ... have you ever wondered why General De Gaule had Roman numerals on his cap? Well, he'd have looked pretty silly with French letters :-)
ReplyDeleteThe French kiss explains a lot. My French husband never understood why I called it a French kiss. Have you had your snails today?
ReplyDeleteHi Cara,
ReplyDeleteI can't believe dolls without faces are illegal in France.
What could possibly have provoked the need for a law against dolls?
Susie