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map of france  ====== The French enjoy 11 national holidays annually including Armistice Day, WWII Victory Day, All Saints Day, and Bastille Day which is very much like our Independence Day. They also celebrate similar holidays as us such as Christmas, New Years, and Labor Day. Another part of their holidays is celebrating with feasts. One of their most important holidays/feasts is on Easter where Easter Bells fly across the sky and drop chocolates for everyone. Although they celebrate this holiday differently, they celebrate Christmas similar to the way we do. Christmas is a fun holiday for all to enjoy in France. Instead of stockings hung by the chimney though, the little boys and girls put their shoes by the fireplace in hope that Pearl Noel will come to fill their shoes with candy. Père Fouettard is the opposite of our santa. He gives spankings to all the bad boys and girls. It is like our tradition of coal. [] -Click here for more info regarding the traditions of Christmas in France.
 * __Culture __**

There are also many important French customs. One of them is being kissed on the cheeks when greeting someone. Unless you know the person you meet you don’t give them a kiss on the cheeks. The longer you have known the person the more they kiss. It is unusual but you may see people kiss as many as 10 times in a single greeting. (First Hand Account). Another interesting custom is the fact most French workers are given free 5 weeks’ holiday time a year to take trips and just get away for a while. []

**__France’s Weather__ ** Right now in Paris it is a chilly 32 degrees and very cloudy. France has a continental climate with warm summers and cold winters France’s weather changes when you move to different parts of the country where it is mountainous the weather is snowier, great for skiers and snowboarders. In the summer in Paris the weather is perfect for seeing the Eiffel Tower, and in the winter when it is rainy you can visit the Louvre art museum.


 * __Links__** - [|www.internationalweather.com]