Friday, March 21, 2008

cloches de pâques*


Here's something fascinating (well, to me, anyway) that I learned today. In France, Easter goodies are brought, not by basket-toting bunnies, but by winged chuch bells. On Maundy Thursday, the bells leave their steeples and head for Rome. On Easter Sunday, they fly back to France, dropping chocolate eggs and other treats in gardens and on balconies as they make their way home.

For a particularly scary representation, complete with very loud sound effects, which can also be sent as a free e-card, click here.



*The picture comes from www.jedessine.com, a French-language site with lots of activities for kids.

19 comments:

Maddie's Mom said...

That is very interesting. I actually like that better than the whole bunny thing.

Julia said...

As creepy as this is, I think it makes a lot more sense. Especially since the flight to Rome is not too bad for them.

A friend's daughter told her the other day she wanted to celebrate Easter. MY friend asked whether the kid knew what Easter is, and she immediately replied "Yes. Chocolate eggs and bunnies." Right. That's exactly what it's about.

Anonymous said...

I don't like this idea at all. It brings the whole religion thing into my Easter candy, and that is against my own personal religion. Easter is about eggs, chocolate and peeps. The whole church bell really puts a kink in my twisted belief system.

thirtysomething said...

How neat!

meg said...

O.K., this is just creepy. Bells, dropping Easter eggs? Something just not right about that.

Tash said...

Wait a second, the bells fly away from a known chocolate capitol to fly to Holyland and come back with Candy?? And not postcards of Michelangelo ceilings or gelato? Or even an Easter Seafood Risotto? Color me confused.

susan said...

That is fascinating--and to think all those years of French classes I took and no one ever mentioned it.

Amanda said...

I'm with Susan -- first time I've ever heard that particular French tradition, despite language classes and a brief stay in France. Very interesting!

My kids did a whole unit of traditions around Christmastime, and it's remarkable how people in various countries mark different holidays. They were intrigued, as was I. I'll share the bell thing with them at a more reasonable hour. Thanks!

painted maypole said...

makes much more sense than the easter bunny!

Maggie said...

You are so smart! I had never heard that before, but I like it!

Magpie said...

I love you.

Traveling bells - oh frabjous day.

allypally said...

See, the churuch bells actually don't ring from Good Friday until Easter Sunday, therefor making their sojourn to Rome plausible. In Belgium, you can buy big choloclate shaped bells. Also they have kick ass little foil wrapped choclate eggs here that come in different flavours and that are completely addictive! Any excuse for choclate, be it a bunny or a bell, is fine in my book.

Minnesota Matron said...

That's just beautiful. I like anything that portends magic and somehow, flying bells hit the mark better than a bunny.

Unknown said...

What an awesome visual.

Amy said...

Thank you for teaching me something new!

Christine said...

i don't car who brings it just get me some candy!

Running on empty

Dr. Atul said...

This was great to know that such things also exists in our world :D :D

www.SHUGLE.com

allypally said...

One more thing...after livijn-ytdfrrr (that last part was added by my cat) living in a bell-believing country for 5 years, I now don't find it odd at all that bells bring chocolate, especially when their silence is particularly pronounced after listening to them sound every half hour all year long.

christina(apronstrings) said...

i prefer easter bunnies.