it seems like a long way off, but naturally i can't stop thinking about our planned trip (2nd time) to paris next spring.

we'll be there for easter and the week following with our 9-year old daughter, and i'm wondering what traditions are similar or different to those in the u.s.

does the easter bunny travel overseas? should i bring my own egg dye kit? what special treats should we look for? surely there are some yummy patisseries not to be missed?

thanks!

The Easter Bunny is not a "personnage" who comes bearing gifts or anything like that, but the patisseries and chocolatiers will be busy producing all kinds of special treats. I once saw an entire dollhouse in the shape of an egg made out of chocolate, about 5 feet tall with about 15 rooms filled with furniture and people, all chocolate. I don't recall seeing bunnies, mostly eggs and variations thereof, but you won't want for special Easter treats.

The year we were in Paris over Easter, the patisserie on Ille St-Louis across from our hotel, had little Easter egg pastries and cakes with bunnies on them. Stores were closed and the city was very quiet.
I understand completely the urge to plan this far ahead

A quick google turns up http://www.easterbunnys.net/frencheaster.htm

I noticed that a recent TV ad in Britain had a family scene with someone dressed up in a bunny outfit à la Santa Claus, which we never had in my childhood (chocolate eggs, all right, but no dressing up), so I suspect this is a fairly recent import, and I'd be surprised if it's reached France. But you never know.

Hi m,

Lots of chocolate chickens, eggs and bunnies.

I don't think they do Easter egg hunts.

There's a hilarious section about this topic in David Sedaris' book"Me Talk Pretty One Day".

Apparently there's not exactly an Easter Bunny in France, but some sort of Easter Bell?

the easter bell it is! thanks patrick, i never would have thought to google for easter bunnies.

we arrive the sat. before easter, so will do our best to ogle and eat as much chocolate as possible.

i was hoping for some public easter egg hunt (or something similar) . . . maybe those bells will provide some activities!

Google search -
Easter Traditions in France:
http://histclo.hispeed.com/act/holid...ou/ec-fra.html
http://www.easterbunnys.net/frencheaster.htm

Tradition has it that all the bells in French churches fly off to Rome on Easter Eve, returning only the next morning to ring in the dawn.

melissa:

In my experience, in both big cities and small towns, Easter is very much a family affair. That may be changing, and it's possible you'll find some activities to watch or participate in, but I've been in France on Easter a number of times and it was very quiet, with most things closed and very few people out and about. Like many other French holidays, it's a time for families to gather and linger over a good, long meal.

st cirq,

thanks so much for the info.

since i'll be with my family, i guess we'll join in and hang out together.

in our fabulous (rented) apt. in paris!!

hope your own summer continues to go swimmingly . . .

On the lighter side, I do know for a fact that the Easter Bunny came to Paris last year. We enjoyed him very much with the wonderful mustard sauce.

PatrickLondon, you must have missed "The Vicar of Dibley" show with the Easter bunniees.

No I didn't, I watched it with some surprise. That was the first time I'd ever heard of the idea.

OK it's off topic, but to register total agreement with Patrick.

Easter Bunnies are among those pests that have found their way into Britain from North America illicitly and very recently - like Canada geese and grey squirrels.

The sooner they're humanely culled the better: they're competing for the same ecological niche as native British fauna, such as the Mars Bar Filled Egg, or the Cadburys Creme Egg, traditionally first spotted in all good sweet shops on December 26.

Fun little book about this called "Chocolat"... of course, you may remember the movie too!

There is no Easter bunny in France. Chocolate eggs are delivered by the church bells on their return from Rome, to which they have mysteriously flown some time during lent. There are indeed Easter egg hunts, but the eggs are all chocolate (wrapped in foil of course if it is an outdoor event). There are also small candy eggs more along the line of jelly beans.