Yet another holiday here in France -- this past Thursday was Ascencion, a traditionally Catholic (but now federal) holiday for which many people take the Friday pont (bridge). For the long weekend, there are numerous event tents set up in front of the grand cathedral of Notre Dame which are, naturally, dedicated to the rising of....the bread.
Yes, Ascension weekend coincides with "La Fête du Pain," a specialty fair here on the grounds of Notre Dame. Five days of celebrating bread, educating people about how bread is made, and convincing them of the seemingly non-controversial assertion that, according to their earnest slogan, "boulanger, c'est un métier" ("bread baker, it's a profession").
Since the girls' school is so close to Notre Dame, the teachers take the opportunity for a field trip (mysteriously, all grades go except G's, which turns out fine, since she's home sick anyway). The kids get to roll out their own bread loaves and also watch a film about the process of making bread, from growing the grain all the way to analyzing the crust color and shape of the finished product.
Lest you are under some "Bringing Up Bébé" delusion that everything about raising young children in France is simply perfection itself, you should know that the teachers take this opportunity to provide the children with flags promoting "le sucre" ("sugar") and huge sticks of cotton candy (colorfully called "barbe à papa" which means "daddy's beard"). Mind you, it is 10:00 in the morning. So don't believe this tosh about how French children never snack and only eat healthy foods. They eat crap, too.
Here is P, at home, triumphant with her braided loaf. The Jews out there will see it as a Challah. My kids will be so mixed up, celebrating the weekend of the risen dead Christ savior (known better as Jesus) with a savory risen bread twist (goes better with cheeses).
Yes, Ascension weekend coincides with "La Fête du Pain," a specialty fair here on the grounds of Notre Dame. Five days of celebrating bread, educating people about how bread is made, and convincing them of the seemingly non-controversial assertion that, according to their earnest slogan, "boulanger, c'est un métier" ("bread baker, it's a profession").
Since the girls' school is so close to Notre Dame, the teachers take the opportunity for a field trip (mysteriously, all grades go except G's, which turns out fine, since she's home sick anyway). The kids get to roll out their own bread loaves and also watch a film about the process of making bread, from growing the grain all the way to analyzing the crust color and shape of the finished product.
Lest you are under some "Bringing Up Bébé" delusion that everything about raising young children in France is simply perfection itself, you should know that the teachers take this opportunity to provide the children with flags promoting "le sucre" ("sugar") and huge sticks of cotton candy (colorfully called "barbe à papa" which means "daddy's beard"). Mind you, it is 10:00 in the morning. So don't believe this tosh about how French children never snack and only eat healthy foods. They eat crap, too.
Here is P, at home, triumphant with her braided loaf. The Jews out there will see it as a Challah. My kids will be so mixed up, celebrating the weekend of the risen dead Christ savior (known better as Jesus) with a savory risen bread twist (goes better with cheeses).
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