Archive for 'Culture'
Happy “Premier Mai” (First of May)! Posted by Hichem on May 1, 2014
Today is la fête du travail (International Workers’ Day), a celebration that, as everyone is aware, takes place in almost every country in the world… But did you know that le premier mai (the First of May) is also the special date of another celebration in France? It’s called la fête du Muguet (the Lily of the Valley Celebration), ans it is estimated to be…
Les Inconnus: Les Rois de la Comédie Française Posted by mtaulier on Apr 21, 2014
Who doesn’t like a good laugh? Le rire (laughter) just makes life better and laughing will put you de bonne humeur (in good humor) even if you’re having a bad day. Everyone has his or her share of favorite comedians. Some like Jerry Seinfeld and Steve Martin while others may prefer Chris Rock or Ricky…
À Table!: The French Meal in Seven Courses (Part 2) Posted by mtaulier on Apr 7, 2014
In the last post we looked at the first three courses of a typical French meal: l’apéritif, l’entrée and le plat principal. Let us continue our culinary journey by exploring the four remaining courses. La Salade et le Fromage (Salad and Cheese): The French typically eat their salad after the main course because ça facilite…
À Table!: The French Meal in Seven Courses (Part 1) Posted by mtaulier on Apr 2, 2014
“Sit down for a French meal and expect to stay seated for at least a couple hours.” I remember hearing someone say these words many years ago and later realized truer words were never spoken. You don’t have to be French pour apprécier la bonne nourriture (to appreciate good food) but for people unaccustomed to…
Johnny Hallyday: The Most Famous Singer You Never Knew Existed Posted by mtaulier on Mar 12, 2014
The French Elvis, the biggest rock star you’ve never heard of—these are just some of the nicknames given to Jean-Philippe Smet, also known as Johnny Hallyday, one of the best-selling French artists of all time. Born in 1943, Johnny—as the French like to call him—began sa carrière (his career) in 1960 with the release of…
*HAPPY* We Are From Paris! Posted by Hichem on Mar 6, 2014
Unless you’ve been living under une pierre (a rock), you most likely have noticed that many cities throughout the world are dancing to the rhythm of “HAPPY“, the song of Pharrell Williams. Last year, Williams made deux gros tubes (two big hits): “Blurred Lines” and “Get Lucky” (with the French group Daft Punk) Of course, Parisians couldn’t pretend like…
“Tu Tires ou tu Pointes?”: An Introduction to the Game of Pétanque (Part 2) Posted by mtaulier on Feb 24, 2014
In the last post, we took a quick look at the evolution of the game of pétanque and talked a little about its popularity and its appeal. Today, let’s take a moment to learn the basics of the game and how it is played. The aim of pétanque is to get as many of your…