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Vendredi fleurs....

All Saints Day in France is part of a national holiday known as La Toussaint.

La Toussaint is a two day festival during which the French celebrate two holidays together: All Saints Day, the day for remembering Catholic saints, and All Souls Day, the day for praying for the souls of the deceased

1 November - All Saints' Day - Toussaint
Pronounced: too-sont

While Halloween is celebrated with trick or treat & parties, on November the 1st Toussaint or All Saints Day, it is traditional for the French to visit the graves of loved ones and decorate them with Chrysanthemums and sometimes Heathers.

Chrysanthemums symbolise hope of future resurrection. Toussaint is an important holiday for the French and a week or so before the shops will be filled with flowers especially Chrysanthemums.

As Chrysanthemums are traditionally laid on graves in France, it would be a considerable faux-pas to give these flowers as a gift to French friends or neighbours.

...Bon week-end a tous,
Leeann x
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Comments

  1. Parisienne Farmgirl28 October 2010 at 21:03

    My french friends fiancé gave her Mums when they were dating = pretty funny.
    Are those lavender bouquets going to be for sale? Did you grown it?

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  2. Caterina Giglio28 October 2010 at 21:50

    oh my, very interesting, the connotations of flowers... they are so beautiful and here they are a symbol of autumn, which is in a way a little death, eh?

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  3. Dianne28 October 2010 at 22:14

    Interesting post- here in Australia we give chrysanthemums to our Mothers on ~Mothers Day~ or people take them to the cemetery if their Mother is deceased.
    I would never give a bunch of them as a gift.

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  4. Airelle28 October 2010 at 22:22

    such a shame to reduce these beautiful flowers into just graveyard goods. personaly i love them and shock every year my french neighbours and friends buying chrysanthemums for my window sill.

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  5. Vær våken28 October 2010 at 22:22

    That's such a sweet tradition! I love your picture!!!

    Kristin xo

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  6. Sarah B28 October 2010 at 23:03

    How fascinating - goodness me, it's good to know these traditions, but I must say it's a bit sad that mums aren't given as a gift - such cheery flowers. Here in Aus it's such a diferent tradition to give them to our mothers on Mother's Day x

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  7. Shane Pollard29 October 2010 at 01:16

    Yes the French even have rules for flowers - as we do too!!
    This is a most interesting post about All Souls and All Saints days and I'm so glad they are still celebrated there.
    We can't let these wonderful old traditionas disappear - as they have in secular countries!
    Shane x

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  8. Draffin Bears29 October 2010 at 05:51

    Hi Leeann,

    Thank you for sharing the interesting post about All Saints Day and the traditions about Chrysanthemums.
    Have a happy weekend

    Hugs
    Carolyn

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  9. Anonymous29 October 2010 at 06:18

    Wow that is really good to know. Thank you!!

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  10. Georgy29 October 2010 at 10:05

    Thanks for the interesting post. It is always good to learn something new around culture / history. I do love the photo too, great colour. G

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  11. M.A. the 2nd ~ Frances Russell29 October 2010 at 13:35

    So lovely to find your gorgeous blog. I love that the French have the days for All Saints and All Souls Day. ... thank-you for stopping by and I will by following.
    M.A. the 2nd

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  12. Anonymous29 October 2010 at 20:00

    Lovely traditions. I hope they follow them in Italia too :)

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  13. Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things29 October 2010 at 22:02

    What an interesting post! I just did a post of some French flowers today too!
    Penny

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  14. The French Maid30 October 2010 at 17:12

    How lovely! So much more to this time than just crazy costumes and candy!
    --Lee Ann

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  15. Simony1 November 2010 at 17:21

    This flower is all over gardens here in US, this time of the year! They look really awesome when planted in groups.

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