In France, Easter is known as Pâques and is celebrated similarly to in New Zealand with some differences - children are told the church bells fly to Rome to be blessed by the Pope and return on Easter Sunday dropping chocolate eggs in gardens. Stores are full of chocolate treats for Easter including eggs, rabbits, chickens and bells while families celebrate with cards, an Easter dinner including roast lamb, and organized Easter egg hunts called Chasse aux œufs.

1. PÂQUES

2. In France, Easter is known as Pâques. It comes in Spring
(Printemps) and is celebrated in much the same way as we
celebrate it here in New Zealand.

3. One difference is that when the church bells stop ringing on the
Thursday before Easter, children are told that they have gone to Rome
to be blessed by the Pope.

4. When the bells ring out again on Easter Sunday morning, the children
are told that they have flown back, dropping chocolate eggs and other
chocolate treats in their gardens.

5. At Easter time, the shops are full of chocolate goodies,
including chocolate chickens, rabbits, eggs and bells.

6. This bell might just be big enough for the whole Junior
School!

7. People send Easter cards to friends and relatives.

8. After church on Easter Sunday, families sit down to a
traditional dinner of roast lamb.

9. Or maybe you would prefer this table de Pâques!

10. Some towns organise an Easter egg hunt called a
Chasse aux œufs

11. Quelle jolie chasse!