Tag: France

March 8th Fill Our Staplers Day

March Holidays

Wow, here’s an exciting day, fill our staplers day. Well to be honest, somebody has to do it so it might as well be you! Life might actually fall apart if no one fills the staplers up. It’s actually a duty of the Dull Men’s Club. The first actual stapler probably came along under King Louis XV back in the 18th century. Can you imagine what would have happened if no one had ever filled the stapler? It would have been a total waste of an invention and something that holds our lives together.

How to celebrate – Fill your stapler. Find your stapler. Buy some staples.

Advertisement

March 2nd National Banana Cream Pie Day

March Holidays

Cream pies are one of the world’s most favorite desserts. They are sweet, creamy and generally filled with some sort of fruit flavoring. Among the top flavors is the Banana Cream Pie sort of like having a piece of pie filled with banana pudding. Cream pies came from French tarts, sweetened for those in the upper crust of society as sugar was very, very expensive. In fact, nearly any kind of fruit can be used to make a cream pie with banana ranking in the top 5.

How to celebrate – Make a banana cream pie. Buy a banana cream pie. Have a cream pie party.

November 7th International Merlot Day

November holidays

If you like wine, you will like today. Merlot is one of the more popular wines on anyone’s wine list. Most Merlots come from France where 60% of the vines grown are Merlot grapes. They are a mainstay of the product coming out of Bordeaux, France where the word Merlot roughly means “Blackbird”. As I understand it, most Merlot are red wines, though some can be rose’.

How to celebrate – Have a Merlot. Visit southern France. Through a wine tasting party.

July 14th Bastille Day

July Holidays

I have always found this holiday to be little odd and that’s not because it is the French revolution for freedom in 1789 but because after helping the American’s win their freedom from King George, apparently the French King learned nothing! The Bastille is a symbol for the revolution since it was a prison in its day where many political enemies of the King were held. In France it is known as Fete de la Federation, of the French Revolution. Bastille Day was actually celebrated a year later in 1790 once that freedom had been won.

How to celebrate – Visit France. Go to the Bastille. Read about the things that led to the French Revolution.

July 5th National Bikini Day

July Holidays

Okay, so here’s a holiday that can easily be considered a “bombshell” in more than one way… it’s National Bikini Day created first on July 5th, 1946. Named for the atomic bomb testing site, the Bikini Atoll, because it rocked the world like any nuclear weapon. Louis Reard created what Michline Bernardini wore in France to demonstrate a new bathing suit for women. Considering most bathing suit covered women from head to toe the bikini was not well accepted at first. In fact, though it first appeared in France in 1946 it did not reach American favor until the 1960’s. The bikinis then and the bikinis now are not even close to the same thing, which… depending on how you “view it” could be both good and bad.

How to celebrate – Get yourself a new bikini. (Not recommended for men but if that’s you thing, okay) Trim down to fit into your bikini after a long winter. Find a nude beach where you don’t have to wear anything at all!

April 1st Poisson d’Avril (April Fish Day) April Fools Day in France

April Holidays

Of course we all know today is a day to play harmless tricks on others and get a laugh for ourselves, and for them. It doesn’t always work that way, but that’s what it’s supposed to mean anyway. The day’s origins may have several sources but the most likely origin dates back to 1564 France, where it was believed to be New Years Day. The rest of the world could not follow the French logic and called them fools for believing it was New Year’s Day and those outside of France may have thought the French were trying to play a harmless trick on them.

How to celebrate – Play some harmless tricks on others (just make sure no one is getting hurt). Throw a party for our boss here at Unboxing the Bizarre, it’s her birthday! Visit France.

July 14th Bastille Day

July Holidays

Bastille Day celebrates the French people winning democracy and freedom from a ruling monarch. In 1789 the “people” attacked the Bastille, a prison for primarily political prisoners, and a symbol of the monarchy. It is called Fette de la Federation in France. I have always wondered how the French King could support the Americans in overthrowing the King of England and not expect the same of their own people. But apparently they didn’t which is why there is no more royalty in France today! Well, leave it to the French to celebrate defeating themselves, “Vive la France”!

How to celebrate – Visit the Bastille. Read about the French Revolution. Learn how to speak French.

April 29th Peace Rose Day

April Holidays

April 29th Peace Rose Day

Somewhere between 1935 and 1939, French horticulturist Francis Meilland developed a new rose he wanted to share with the world. Knowing World War 2 was about to begin and that his work would probably be destroyed, he sent cutting of the rose to Italy, Turkey, Germany and the US. In France it was known as the “Madame A. Meilland”, in Italy the “Gioia” (Meaning joy) in Germany the Gloria Dei (Glory to God) and in the US it became known as the Peace Rose because of its association with the End of World War 2 in Europe on April 29th, 1945.

How to celebrate – Grow your own Peace Rose. Read about Francis Meilland. Plant a rose garden.

April 26th National Pretzel Day

April Holidays, Unboxing the Bizarre

Though the pretzel is often associated with German food, or snacks, it actually was created around 610 AD in Southern France by Catholic Monks. Some insist that pretzels first appeared in Italy, also made by Monks, who created them as treats for children who said their prayers. The original pretzels were designed to look like arms folded over the chest, as if saying prayers. Of course the Germans claim some credit for the first pretzel as well so about all we do know is that it was created in Europe, somewhere. The first pretzel in the United States was made by Julius Sturgis in 1850 at Lititz, Pennsylvania. While today has some listing a 1983 Pretzel Day we do know that Governor Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania made a pretzel holiday in 2003.

How to celebrate – Have a pretzel today. Learn how to make your own pretzel. Visit a German restuarant.

February 7th Ballet Day

February holidays

February 7th Ballet Day

Standing right along with the Opera, Ballet is a beautiful art form that seems designed for the upper crust. Perhaps that’s because that is where ballet started. Its roots come from the Renaissance, particularly in France and Italy among the nobility. Dance, speech, music, verse, song and pageantry were all celebrated in the ballet where at the end the audience joined in. Must have been quite a sight! Of course, there were not tutus and all those fancy steps like the A terre, Arabesque and Carbriole weren’t even heard of yet.

How to celebrate – Learn ballet. Go to a ballet performance (If you can find one). Try on a tutu to see how it looks on you.