Easter in France

History
Easter - religious Christian holiday in memory of Jesus Christ Resurection.
For Frenchmen Easter is not only a religious holiday. Frenchmen congratulate relatives, close friends; it is even not so much a religious date, as something kind and joyful.

Easter eggs
Frenchmen don't imagine Easter holidays without eggs and bells
But why eggs?
In one of the legends sacred Maria Magdalina came to Rome with a good message about resurection of Jesus Christ. She presented the emperor an egg with the words “Jesus Christ has resurected!". But the emperor answered that it was impossible.Then that white egg changed the colour into red. They were speaking for a long time after that.

Egg is, undoubtedly, a life symbol. French kings received the biggest ones every year which were brought to their kingdoms.
In the12th century the king of France himself distributed eggs to all visitors of the church.
Christians tried to paint eggs in red.

Chocolate bells
Along with eggs it is accepted to make chocolate bells. The hand-made bell in France is the Easter symbol of general pleasure and fun.During this holiday the ring of hand-made bells is audible everywhere. On Sacred Thursday church bells are silent to underline Jesus Christ drama. And on the contrary, they start to call on Easter Sunday, announcing resurection of the Christ.

In many European countries the rabbit that brings Easter eggs has become a popular easter character.
In the legend, the pagan goddess of spring Estra transformed a bird into a rabbit, but it continued to lay eggs.
Easter rabbit

Easter holiday in Paris
Easter time comes, hand-made bells, a symbol of Easter, ring around. Show-windows of any confectioner's shops are filled with chocolate eggs, small fishes, rabbits, and also chocolate bells with pink, white and blue ribbons. All these easter sweets are given to children. But adults don't neglect gifts: it is interesting for them to know what they will be presented for Easter; they wait for a surprise. Chocolate coins are very popular, too – they are given to children and adults to live in richness all the year round.