Joyeuses Paques - Some Easter Vocabulary in French

This week has been a holy one for Christians around the world. It’s called Paschal Triduum (and is sometimes referred to as the Easter Triduum), and it contains 3 important days in the life of Jesus Christ. Maundy Thursday (jeudi saint) commemorates the Maundy (the Washing of the Feet) and the Last Supper. Good Friday (vendredi saint) refers to the crucifixion and death of Jesus, and Holy Saturday (you guessed it – samedi saint) commemorates the day Jesus’s body lay in the tomb.

The following day is Easter Sunday (Pâques), and it’s about a lot more than some dyed eggs and chocolate.

On this day –  'le troisième jour' (the third day) – we celebrate la résurrection de Jésus (the resurrection of Jesus Christ).

Ash Wednesday (mercredi des Cendres) is the start of Lent (le carême) and lasts 40 days. It’s common for followers to choose something to give up for Lent.

"Lent is about conversion, turning our lives more completely over to Christ and his way of life. That always involves giving up sin in some form. The goal is not just to abstain from sin for the duration of Lent but to root sin out of our lives forever. Conversion means leaving behind an old way of living and acting in order to embrace new life in Christ. For catechumens, Lent is a period intended to bring their initial conversion to completion."

I think it’s fair to say that most things people choose to abstain from aren’t exactly sins – some of my friends gave up and Starbucks and Facebook this year.

While Easter always falls on a Sunday, the date on the calendar varies every year. We celebrate this date on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox, so we’re looking at some point between March 22nd and April 25th.

In France during the Paschal Triduum? Don’t expect to hear any Church bells.

The tradition states that all church bells fly to the Vatican to be blessed by le Pape (the Pope) before returning. They don’t come empty handed (let’s pretend that bells have hands for this) – they come back with gifts and chocolates and drop them off into the homes of children on the way back.

Let’s take a look at Easter-related vocabulary in French

Paques – Easter  (note that this word is not used with an article and always has an S

la Paque – Passover (note the lack of S and the usage of an article)

pascal(e) – adjective meaning 'of Easter'

le Careme – Lent

le mercredi des Cendres – Ash Wednesday

le dimanche des Rameaux – Palm Sunday

la semaine sainte – Holy Week

le jeudi saint – Maundy Thursday

le vendredi saint – Good Friday

le samedi saint – Holy Saturday

les cloches de Paques – Flying Easter Bells

le printemps – spring

une église – church

un panier – a basket

un jeune – fast, fasting

le chocolat – chocolate

un œuf – egg

un lapin – rabbit

un poussin – chick

une poule – hen

un agneau – lamb

un poisson – fish

Blog submitted by: Alex at The French Property Network - Cle France.

This blog was originally posted on The French Language Blog pages.

Wild Swings in Big Currencies

Let us try and makes sense of it for you.…

Right now, we are seeing some wild swings in the major currencies.

The market’s main theme recently has been a shift towards risk aversion as scared money seeks safety.

Usually, the US Dollar is considered a safe haven in uncertain times, but not this time.

Money is flowing out of the US Dollar and looking for calmer waters.

Typical safe haven currencies such as the Swiss Franc and Japanese Yen have seen big inflows (as expected).

But given its deep liquidity and lack of alternatives, the Euro has also been a somewhat surprising beneficiary as investors shift away from the US Dollar.

The Euro’s ascent has led to a rapid fall in the Pound to Euro rate. GBP/EUR slumped to 17-month lows late last week.

However, in the last few days, we’ve seen the Pound stage a small comeback against the Euro as investors nerves have calmed down a little.

But it’s likely there will be many more twists and turns to come.

Big announcements from the White House are literally happening daily, so expect more see-sawing moves.

Aside from tariff news, the UK is set to release the latest unemployment and inflation data later this week.

And the European Central Bank has an interest rate decision on Thursday – which tends to be a high impact event for the Euro.

Lots to consider before Easter.

So what next, what should you do?

As always, it’s best to keep a close eye on exchange rates so you can make the most of the opportunities.

Be sure to reach out so we can discuss the best options for you..To speak to our team, call 01872 487 500.

To find out our latest rates, just click below

.

1. Great exchange rates
2. Quick and easy transfers
3. No transfer fees
4. Expert help and guidance
5. Authorised by the FCA

Current rates: 

Tuesday 15th April 2025 at 09:30

£1.00 GBP = 1.1650 EUR

£1.00 GBP = 1.3230 USD

£1.00 GBP = 2.0810 AUD

£1.00 GBP = 2.2385 NZD

£1.00 GBP = 1.8330 CAD

£1.00 GBP = 1.0770 CHF

• Want to Learn More?

• We have created a selection of Free PDF Guides for you to download covering many aspects of buying property abroad, visit our PDF Guides Page today or download our "Buying A Property in France" Guide PDF document.

• Want to Live in France Post-Brexit? download our "PDF Guide to Living in France Post-Brexit" document.

  

• Need to Send Money Abroad?

  • At Clé France / Key Currency, many of our customers have a need for currency exchange.
  • We are pleased to offer our customers favourable exchange rates on international currency transfers.
  • As a Clé France website visitor, you qualify for preferential exchange rates when you transact through Key Currency.

How to Save Money on your foreign currency transfers

• Key Currency can save you money by offering more competitive rates of exchange than your bank.
• Clients can typically save you 3-4% of the total transaction value, which can result in significant cost savings.
• All client funds are held in segregated accounts with top-tier banks keeping your money safe and secure.

For everything you need to know about French property visit www.clefrance.co.uk

Pound braced for wild week

A new month and a new quarter this week.…

The big event to be aware of is coming this Wednesday…

Donald Trump is set to launch a major round of tariffs on goods from all countries in what he is calling “Liberation Day”.

There is a proposed 25% tariff on cars – something that will be particularly damaging to the EU.

But it won’t stop there.

The UK, EU and Canada are currently discussing whether to immediately retaliate with tariffs of their own.

Amidst all the tariff talk, the US economy is feeling the pinch.

Consumer confidence has dropped for four months straight – not a good sign for other countries.

Trade war talk is now turning into action.

Given what’s about to happen, markets are braced for high volatility.

So what next, what should you do?

As always, it’s best to keep a close eye on exchange rates so you can make the most of the opportunities.

Make sure to reach out to our team to discuss the best options for your currency requirements.

To speak to our team, call 01872 487 500.

To find out our latest rates, just click below.

1. Great exchange rates
2. Quick and easy transfers
3. No transfer fees
4. Expert help and guidance
5. Authorised by the FCA

Current rates: 

Tuesday 1st April 2025 at 12:15

£1.00 GBP = 1.1960 EUR

£1.00 GBP = 1.2910 USD

£1.00 GBP = 2.0655 AUD

£1.00 GBP = 2.2750 NZD

£1.00 GBP = 1.8580 CAD

£1.00 GBP = 1.1390 CHF

• Want to Learn More?

• We have created a selection of Free PDF Guides for you to download covering many aspects of buying property abroad, visit our PDF Guides Page today or download our "Buying A Property in France" Guide PDF document.

• Want to Live in France Post-Brexit? download our "PDF Guide to Living in France Post-Brexit" document.

  

• Need to Send Money Abroad?

  • At Clé France / Key Currency, many of our customers have a need for currency exchange.
  • We are pleased to offer our customers favourable exchange rates on international currency transfers.
  • As a Clé France website visitor, you qualify for preferential exchange rates when you transact through Key Currency.

How to Save Money on your foreign currency transfers

• Key Currency can save you money by offering more competitive rates of exchange than your bank.
• Clients can typically save you 3-4% of the total transaction value, which can result in significant cost savings.
• All client funds are held in segregated accounts with top-tier banks keeping your money safe and secure.

For everything you need to know about French property visit www.clefrance.co.uk

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In France, an April Fool's joke is known as Poisson d'Avril - April Fish. That's why David & Sharon, the founders of Cle France, pictured in the postcard below are holding a fish!

In all regions of France there will be a lot more Fish available and being bought for celebratory lunches, a bit like Pancake Day BUT with Fish!

The first year my son played an April Fools joke on me I was confused as to why he kept shouting "Poisson d'Avril, Poisson d'Avril, Poisson d'Avril", the calming influence of my wife explaining why he was repeatedly shouting this phrase thankfully avoided me having him see a costly psychiatrist and as it turns out, he is fine. 

This postcard was originally sent in 1908 and the words on the bottom translate as:

'When you receive our nice fish, you'll know we're always thinking of you.'

To be honest if you opened the door at these two characters were standing there you would have a right to be scared! but they are no doubt charming friendly neighbours as is the norm in France.

The 'rules' of April Fool's and Poisson d'Avril are more or less the same thing, other than the French have a Fascination for Fish! The tradition in France is that along with practical jokes and bogus news stories, putting paper fish on the backs of unsuspecting victims is thought as hilarious, those crazy French japes eh! 

Here's a little April 1st film trivia for you: What gritty and stylish 1970's police movie takes place in Marseille where the opening scene is on April 1st?

See Below for the answer.

ANSWER IS: the French Connection II. In the opening scenes of the movie, Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle (played by Gene Hackman) meets Henri Barthélémy (played by Bernard Fresson), in front of the gendarmarie in Marseille. Barthélémy is looking for drugs, where else but in a fish of course, based on a tip. He doesn't find any, as it's a Poisson d'Avril it is a joke played on the police, get it?

Anybody played any good "Poisson d'Avril" jokes or had one played on them?

Blog submitted by: David at The French Property Network - Cle France.

Thanks for the website 'Americans in France' for the original French Postcard image.

In France, an April Fool's joke is known as Poisson d'Avril - April Fish. Why else would we show you a picture of a fish rather than a house for sale in France!

Many a 1st April has been spent with me walking round completely oblivious to the fact I have a paper fish on my back, read on to learn why.

In all regions of France there will be a lot more Fish available and being bought for celebratory lunches, a bit like Pancake Day BUT with Fish!

Photo by OrigamiNate on Flickr.

Humour can be a bit hard to understand in another language, whether it’s a "knock knock" joke, or an inside joke that you’re not in on. Heureusement (fortunately), April Fool’s Day exists in France. That said, it has a different set of traditions and a very different name: April Fish or in French, Poisson d’arvil.

The holiday is celebrated with des plaisanteires et des canulars (jokes and pranks), but also by trying to accrocher un poisson de papier dans le dos de tes amis (stick paper fish on your friends’ backs)!

The name poisson d’avril comes from an old tradition dating back to 1564. La légende veut que (Legend has it that) the year used to start on April 1st, but was changed to January 1st by Charles IX. The old new year’s tradition involved a gift exchange, mais (but) some people n’étaient pas au courant du changement (were not aware of the change) and continued to exchange gifts on April 1st after le changement. Other people then used the occasion de se moquer d’eux (to make fun of them)!

But why fish? The old new year était pendant (was during) the end of le Carême (Lent). Christians would be fasting, but they could still eat fish. The joke of giving un faux poisson (a fake fish) began as une blague (a joke) on the old tradition of giving real fish as gifts. Donc le nom (Thus the name), poisson d’avril.

The tradition continues today and kids all over France will try to sneak up and accrocher un poisson papier dans le dos de ses amis. When the friend le découvre (finds out), the surprise is met with shouts of Poisson d’arvil! much the same way un gag similaire (a similar gag) would be met with April Fool’s! in the English speaking world.

Voici une liste de vocabulaire pour le poisson d’arvil:

Une plaisanterie – A joke

Une blague – A joke, a trick

Un canular – A prank

Un gag – A joke, a gag

Un poisson papier – A paper Fish

Poisson d’avril! – April Fools!

Accrother un poisson de papier dans le dos de quelqu’un – Stick a paper fish on someone’s back

Start your pranking out right and accrochez un poisson de papier dans le dos de quelqu’un!

Blog submitted by: Alex at The French Property Network - Cle France.

This blog was originally posted on The French Language Blog pages.