The French are pretty smart y’know; 2 February 1799 saw the world’s first international scientific conference held in Paris, and to date, France has the second highest number of Fields Medals (mathematics) in the world, after the United States. The European Space Agency (ESA) is based […]
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Did you know that in China, students are having rhinoplasty in order to make their noses shaped more like the Eiffel Tower? In recent years, China has seen a 40% increase in students going under the knife in a bid to improve their chances of getting […]
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After Israel and the United States, and with around half a million members, France has the largest Jewish population on the planet, so it may seem surprising to discover that there is only one kosher vineyard in the whole country. However, given that in the entire […]
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To the south of Paris, near Orly airport, is the international market of Rungis – the largest wholesale fresh food and flower market in the world. 40% of fresh produce consumed in France goes through Rungis, as well as 30% of fish and seafood, 20% of […]
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The festival of the kings, or Epiphany, is celebrated on January 6th. As well as celebrating the day the Magi visited the Christ Child, and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, Epiphany marks the end of the 12 days of Christmas; the 12 […]
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On New Year’s Day in France (le Jour de l’An), it is usual for friends and family gather together to make New Year’s resolutions. Sometimes gifts and cards are exchanged as well. Bonne année et bonne santé! On behalf of everyone here at France.com, we […]
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In France, December 31st is known as la Saint-Sylvestre, and is named after Saint Sylvestre, who was a 4th century AD pope during the time of Constantine the Great and the conversion of the Roman Empire to Christianity. The saint actually has little to do […]
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Since 1570, there has been a Christmas market in Strasbourg, and just as then, visitors nowadays can fill themselves full of Christmas cheer in the form of bretzels, mulled wine, candies, and pastries. These days, you can buy all the decorations for your Christmas tree as […]
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The tradition of decorating Christmas trees in France goes back to 16th century Alsace, when people would hang apples and nuts from the trees’ branches. However, in 1858, a drought caused the apple harvest to fail, so an enterprising glass blower from Goetzenbruck in Lorraine created […]
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As with many people across the world, the Christmas tree (le sapin de Noël) takes pride of place at Christmastide in French homes, schools, businesses, and factories. The first Christmas tree in France is said to have been put up in Alsace in the 1521 but it […]
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