In France Easter is a very important religious celebration. Most of the people go to church.
We celebrate on Easter Sunday and Monday but in our area, Moselle and Alsace, Easter Friday is also a bank holiday because of the former German occupation.
After World War II we have kept this day off.
On Thursday evening the church bells ring for the last time as it is said they travel to Roma and they will only come back on Saturday at noon. As there are no ringing bells, boys walk in cities and villages and make noises with rattles in the morning at about 7 o'clock am, at noon and in the evening at 7 pm.They replace the bells.
On Saturday afternoon they go to people's houses and are offered gifts such as eggs and chocolate.
On Easter Sunday children either go to the garden and look for hidden eggs and chocolate or check their nest where the Easter rabbit has put some chocolate. The nests are made of straw, grass or flowers. Adults offer chocolate eggs or rabbits. Chocolate makers and sellers are very busy.
The Easter lunch is somewhat special. It is the end of Lent. The traditional meat is lamb.
If you have a sweet tooth be careful and don't eat too much chocolate. :)
Some houses are decorated outside and inside and even roundabouts in our town Saint Avold.
People create decorations or buy them. They put them on their windows, on their tables.
by Maryline Clément
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