Les Saints de Glace

On the 11th, 12th and 13th May of each year, in France, there is a celebration of 'Les Saints de Glace' meaning 'Saints of Ice'. From the popular beliefs of Europe, the north of the Mediterranean's sea, Saint Mamert, Saint Pancrace and Saint Servais are implored by the farmers to avoid the cooling down of the temperatures around this time that can bring the frost on the plantations. Once this period finished, the frost shouldn't be to fear.
On the 11th of May is celebrated Saint Mamert, on the 12th Saint Pancrace and on the 13th of May Saint Servais. In the calendar they are nowadays replaced by the names Estelle, Achille and Rolande.

Blue, White, Red...

The French flag or tricolour flag blue, white, red, is the national emblem of France from the article 2 of the French Constitution of 1958. Composed of three vertical bands with same seize, its creation come back to the French Revolution.

The blue band exists since the crowning of Clovis, it reminds the Chape of Saint Martin, a relic that Clovis asked to take out his tomb in the memory of the coat that the saint (Saint Martin) has shared with a poor in front of Amiens.

The white was from 1638 to 1790 the colour of the royal flag and some marine flag. From 1814 to 1830, it also has been the colour of the royal army. The white symbolises the France and also in order of divine, of God, from which the choice of this colour as the symbol of the Kingdom. The King's power was coming from the hand of God.

It's from the reign of Hugues Capet, and then under his decent, that the Kings of France raise the oriflamme. This banner of red-orange colour is given to the Abbaye de Saint-Denis, prestigious abbey raised by Dagobert the 1st. Since Henri IV (1589-1610), the domestic staff under the King of France authority were dressed of white livery ornate of blue and red. The French Guards had adopted the three colours on their uniform and the emblem of their regiment. They keep the colours after the French Revolution and become the National Guard.

1st of May

In French called 'Muguet' or Lily of the Valley in English, in France every year on the 1st of May, people buy this flower to give to someone to wish luck and happiness. It seems that the Muguet, origin from Japan, has been in Europe since the Middle-Age.
The plant of small bells has always symbolised the Spring and Celtic people were thinking that it would give luck to anyone who would have some. On the 1st of May 1561, the king Charles IX made it official after he received on this date some of those flowers as luck, he decided to give some every year to the women of the court. The tradition was born. The flower is also given as a gift of love.
For a long time was organised the 'bals du muguet' Lily of the valley's ball. It was the only one ball were the parents were forbidden to come. On that day, the girls were dressed all in white and the boys had some of those flowers at their waist coat. The Lily of the valley is also used very often in the wedding, as it is white and delicate.