Easter traditions in France and Provence
- virginieinprovence
- Mar 17
- 4 min read
Today, I’d like to introduce you to Easter traditions in France, and more specifically Easter traditions in Provence.
Easter is a very important celebration in France, both religious, cultural, and family-oriented. In the Christian tradition, it celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The date of Easter changes every year. It is celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon after March 21st.
In France, Easter is also a time for families to gather and enjoy a long weekend, since Easter Monday is a public holiday.
During this celebration, children take part in Easter egg hunts in gardens. Unlike in many other countries, in France it is not the Easter Bunny who brings the eggs, but the church bells.
Finally, families traditionally share a large Easter meal, often centered around roast lamb.
The origin of the word “Pâques”
How is the word “Pâques” written and what is its grammatical gender?
The word Pâques is written with a circumflex accent and a final “s.”
In French, it is generally feminine plural.
Its origin comes from the Latin word pascha, which itself comes from the Hebrew pessa'h, referring to the Jewish Passover, commemorating the liberation of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt.
In the Christian tradition, Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which occurred three days after his death.
Good Friday and Easter Sunday
In the Christian tradition, two moments are particularly important.
Good Friday is the day when Christians commemorate the death of Jesus Christ on the cross.
According to tradition, Jesus was then placed in a tomb and rose from the dead three days later, on Easter Sunday.
Good Friday is therefore a day of reflection and fasting, while Easter Sunday is a day of celebration and joy.
These two events — the death and resurrection of Christ — are among the most important moments in the Christian calendar.
The tradition of Easter bells
In France, a tradition says that church bells fly to Rome on Holy Thursday.
During this time, they stop ringing to symbolize the mourning associated with the death of Christ.
They return on Easter Sunday and begin ringing again to announce the resurrection of Jesus.
According to the legend, during their journey the bells bring back chocolate eggs for children.
Parents then hide these eggs in the garden, and children search for them during an Easter egg hunt.
This tradition mainly exists in:
France
Belgium
Switzerland
Luxembourg
some regions of Canada
Who brings Easter eggs in other countries?
Traditions vary from country to country.
In Germany and Austria, it is the Easter Bunny (Osterhase) who brings the eggs.
In England, children also participate in egg hunts, although there isn’t always a specific character bringing the eggs.
In the United States, the Easter Bunny is very popular and often brings baskets filled with chocolate and candy.
Easter traditions in different regions of France
In France, each region has its own Easter traditions.
In Provence
In Provence, families traditionally prepare roast lamb, often served with:
flageolet beans
potatoes
green peas
People also enjoy fougasse de Pâques, a sweet brioche flavored with anise, sometimes decorated with eggs.
In Alsace
In Alsace, people often bake lammele, a small lamb-shaped cake.
You can also find Easter nests, pastries filled with sugar eggs.
In the Vosges
In some towns, people celebrate the Easter vigil, a night procession around a large fire and candles.
In Corsica
In Corsica, traditional Easter specialties include:
panzarotti, fritters filled with brousse or brocciu cheese
canistrelli, biscuits flavored with anise or white wine
Easter around the world
Easter is celebrated in many countries around the world, although traditions and customs may vary.
In many places, families decorate eggs and organize egg hunts, which are very popular activities during this season.
In Spain, Holy Week (Semana Santa) takes place before Easter, with many religious processions in the streets.
In Italy, it is traditional to eat colomba, a dove-shaped cake symbolizing peace.
In the United States, children wait for the visit of the Easter Bunny, who brings baskets filled with chocolate and sweets.
In many countries, including France, Easter Monday is also a public holiday.
Spring holidays (Easter holidays) in France
In France, Easter holidays are also called spring holidays.
This is a very popular time for families, as it marks the return of warmer days. The days grow longer, the sun returns, and many people take the opportunity to travel or spend time with family.
Spring holidays last two weeks, but the dates vary depending on the region. France is divided into three school zones: A, B, and C, and each zone has holidays at different times.
This system was introduced in 1964 by the French Minister of Education at the time, Christian Fouchet, in order to spread tourist traffic more evenly and avoid congestion in popular holiday areas.
Today, this calendar is still used for Christmas, winter, and spring holidays.
We belong to Zone B, and this year our children will be on holiday from April 11 to April 27, 2026.
I hope this article helped you learn a little more about Easter traditions in France.
If you come to stay with me for a French immersion experience in Provence, I will introduce you to the many aspects of the region: landscapes, scents, culture, and gastronomy, while helping you improve your French.
Read also
If you would like to discover Provence while learning French, you might also enjoy these articles:
👉 Why come for a French immersion in Provence?
👉 The benefits of yoga and bodywork for learning French
👉 A typical day in my immersion program in Provence
See you soon in Provence
Virginie in Provence
Comments