Celebrations held February 2nd 2023 in France

Pancake Chandeleur

The celebration is Candlemas (Chandeleur) on February 2, 2023.

Also known as a feast of the presentation of Jesus Christ and a feast of the purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary it is also a Christian holy day commemorating the presentation of Jesus at the temple.

The Chandeleur is a Christian holiday (Holy-day) celebrated every 2nd February, 40 days after Christmas.

Chandeleur comes from the word festival of candles which is translated from the Latin festa candelarum for the faithful to celebrate the bright light of Jesus as well as the purity of the Virgin Mary.

Indeed, the chandeleur ( Candelmas) commemorates the presentation of Jesus in the temple, the Jewish tradition that every male firstborn in the family is brought to the temple in order to be consecrated to the Lord.

This time corresponds to the time during which mothers were considered unclean by Jewish law after childbirth, so they were prohibited from going to a place of worship.

Once this time had passed, mothers could go to the temple to make an animal sacrifice and this recover their purity.

On the day Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple, the gospel of Luke tells that a man whose name was Simeon arrived and said he was told by the holy spirit that he would not die until he has seen the Messiah.

He then took baby Jesus in his arms and said “Lord, now you let your servant go in peace according to your words. For my eyes have seen your salvation. You have prepared this moment for all the people to enlighten the nations and glory of Israel”.

How Does France Celebrate the Chandeleur (Candelmas) ?

In the Catholic religion, the chandeleur gives rise to a blessing of candles, then a candlelight procession to the church where a solemn Mass is held, in order to remind the faithful of the ascent of Joseph and Mary and bringing Jesus to the temple at the end of this mass, each faithful brings home a candle that has been blessed according to local or national traditions.

What Other Popular Culture Derives from the Chandeleur or Pancakes as More Commonly Known?

This festival is also associated with pancakes that are cooked on this occasion in a tradition that goes back to the custom of handing out pastries to pilgrims coming to Rome or more simply, to remember that the end of winter is approaching and that will all have food supplies.

Enjoy how to make scrumptious pancakes enjoyed at ‘Gone Fishin’ your holiday home here in the sunny Lot et Garonne courtesy of the BBC

This practice, which combines the feast of enlightenment with the consumption of this desert, is also reflected in the Jewish tradition of eating doughnuts during the festival of Hanukkah, the festival of the lights of Judaism

Another tradition whilst making the first pancake, it is common to toss it up in the air several times in a row in order to ward off the bad spell for the coming year.

This old tradition reports also that peasants used to do this by holding a coin in the left hand or for the rich people it would be gold in order to attract happiness and prosperity to them.

In Luxembourg, the current tradition is a torchlight procession. The reason is that children can go walking the streets in groups during the evening of February 2 holding a lamp or a baguette.

They Celebrate in the United States and Canada it is associated with the festival also on February 2nd called Groundhog Day where tradition dictates that the groundhog’s reaction to the exit of its burrow is observed. If she comes out and doesn’t see her shadow because of the clouds in the sky it’s a sign that winter will end soon. On the contrary, if it says shadow due to a clear sky it will mean that winter will last another six weeks.

New thoughts should now emerge when eating pancakes.You too could be eating them here at Gone Fishin with a fishing rod in one hand and a scrumptious pancake in the other. The carp fishing is free … a bonus. Enjoy https://gonefishin-holiday4two.com/  

Carp at Gone Fishin
Carp at Gone Fishin

France 2019. How Much For A Taxi – Stamps – Whats New In French Currency

French Taxis Cost 2019

France 2019. How Much For A Taxi – Stamps – Whats New In French Currency.

Taxis: New Fares for 2019

Taxis In France 2019 prices
Taxis In France 2019 prices

What you need to know when booking a taxi in France.

 What is the minimum price you will be charged? 

What is the price to go to an airport?

 Taxi fares for 2019 are set by official decree in December 2018.

In 2019, the minimum fare for a journey is set at € 7.10 for all taxis (Parisians and non-Parisians).

In addition, taxi fares are capped at:

  • € 4.10 
  • 1,10 € for the kilometer traveled
  • 36,73 € for the hourly price concerning the waiting period when reserved by the customer).

For Parisian taxis, booking supplements are, as in 2018, to:

  • 4 € in case of immediate reservation;
  • 7 € if booking in advance. 

    Moreover, for all races of Parisian taxis, only extra ” passenger ” of 4 € may be applied from a 5 th person carried.

    There is a flat rates set for the Paris taxis between Paris and the Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle and Orly airports (in both directions) remain unchanged compared to those in 2018: 

    • € 50 between Paris – Charles-de-Gaulle airport and Paris rive droite;
    • 55 € between Paris – Charles-de-Gaulle airport and Paris rive gauche;
    • 35 € between Paris-Orly airport and Paris rive droite;
    • 30 € between Paris-Orly airport and Paris left bank.

    There are also flat rates for shopping related to Nice Côte d’Azur Airport:

    • 32 € between Nice airport and Nice-center.
    • € 80 between Nice airport and Cannes;
    • 90 € between Nice airport and Monaco;

    Finally, for travelling for example to Toulouse Blagnac airport, these flat rates vary between € 15 and € 45 (depending on the area of the city). Please check on booking.

    How Much For Stamps In France 2019

    French Stamp New Prices For 2019
    French Stamps New Prices For 2019

     Stamp price: new increase on January 1, 2019

  • Priority letter (red stamp) or green letter (green stamp):

    Rates for stamps for individuals increased by an average of about 10% from 1 st  January 2019.

    This is indicated by a statement of the Regulatory authority for electronic communications and postal services (Arcep) on 2019 universal postal service tariffs.

    For individuals, the price of green stamp (distributed within 48 hours in France) will increase from 0.80 €  to  0.88 € , the red stamp (priority mail delivered within 24 hours in France) will now be priced at 1.05 € (against 0.95 € today).

    The ” Ecopli ,” the most economical way (sending in 4 days on average), will go from 0.78 €  to 0.86 € .

    For parcel post called Colissimo, the public rate Colissimo France metropolitan less 

    than 250 grams will remain at the same price as in 2018 ( 4.95 € ).

    Whats New In French Currency 2019

  • French New Currency For 2019
    French New Currency For 2019

    New Currency Notes of 100 and 200 Euros Arriving May 2019

  • The new € 100 and € 200 notes  are due to enter the euro zone from May 28, 2019, as part of the gradual renewal of the European currency denominations. They were presented by the European Central Bank (ECB) on 17 September 2018.

    These new notes are part of a series called ” Europe ” because two of the security signs used include a portrait of Princess Europe, a character of Greek mythology that gave its name to the continent. Tickets of 5 € , 10 € , 20 € and 50 € are already part of this series.

    The security markings in this series are perfected to allow better protection against counterfeiting. These new notes will be easier to verify the authenticity through feel, scrutinising  and tilting to the light .

  • The new € 100 note retains green as the dominant colour while taking inspiration from the Baroque and Rococo architectural style.

  • The New 100 Euro Note in circulation in May 2019
    The New 100 Euro Note in circulation in May 2019

    The new note 200 € shows secure gates , the yellow colour and the glass and steel architectural style of the XIX th  century.

  • The New 200 Euro Note in circulation May 2019
    The New 200 Euro Note in circulation May 2019

    These two new notes will have the same height as the € 50 note, but they will have the same length as the €100and 

  • €200 notes currently in circulation (the longer the note, the higher their face value).