Figure 1.-- This school photograph was lbeled, "Baromesnil une fête de fin d'année en 1939." Baromesnil is a Paris Metro station which I assume means a neigborhood. And this is part of the end of year ceremony. The boys do not seem too happy about their costumes, A French reader tells us that this Baromesnil is a very small French town on the coast of the English Channel. He tells us, "I do not believe that children are not smiling because of their costume. In fact, this school event is eagerly awaited by all pupils and they are proud to present a little performance to their parents. In this photograph the children seem to wear a dress with wings; may be like a bee." We thought they might be angels. The children are labeled, "De gauche à droite en partant du haut, meaning from left to right: Stéphane LEJEUNE, Michel MIGNOT, Michel POIRIER, Marcel BAUCLET, Claude MIGNOT, Guy LAROBE, Daniel CARPENTIER, Edouard LAVOINE, René BAUCLET, Fernand FLUTRE.

We note a range of different occassions which are celebrated at French schools. Although our informtion is still incomplete we have begun to collect information on this topic. The information we have collcted is mostly based on the photograohic record. The most important event based on the prevalence of available images appears to be the year end programs. Each class seems to put on some sort of presentation, often in special costumes just for the event. We also notice festive holiday pagents of various kinds. We also believe that there were prize giving ceremonies at the end of the year, but we are not yet sure about that. We have only limited information on events at the the different types of French schools. We do have some information on maternelles for the younger children. We notice various types of French school events. We have noted award ceremonies, pagents, partoes, and sports days. We also notice First Communion ceremonies, but only at Catholic schools. France has a shighly secular public school system. Hopefully our French readers will provide more information on the various events they remember at their schools.

Occassions

We note a range of different occassions which are celebrated at French schools. They are for the most part similar to the pccassions celebrated at other schools in other countries. In many cases the costumes worn by the children, especially the younger children, are destinctively French. Although our informtion is still incomplete we have begun to collect information on this topic. The information we have collcted is mostly based on the photograohic record. The most important event based on the prevalence of available images appears to be the year end programs. Each class seems to put on some sort of presentation, often in special costumes just for the event. We also notice festive holiday pagents of various kinds. We also believe that there were prize giving ceremonies at the end of the year, but we are not yet sure about that.

School Levels

We have only limited information on events at the the different types of French schools. We do have some information on maternelles for the younger children. We do not yet have much information on the older children. The age of the children and the school level affect the types of special events orgnized at the schools. We think the end of school events at primary schools were similar to those at maternelles, epecially for the younger children. Of course as the children get older, there ismore tghey are capble of doing, including skits, recitations, singing, dancing and much more. More emphasis can be given to idividual performances. We are not sure , however, what these ceremonies were like at the secondaty level. They may hav been more limited to ceremonies like prize giving for the students achievements. Hopefully our French readers will provide us some accounts of their school experiences.

Type of Celebration

We notice various types of French school events. We have noted award ceremonies, pagents, parties, and sports days. Wehave found images of Christmas parties at maternelles. We note one complete with Sana Clause and presents. The boys are all dressed up in white romper suits and the girls wear little dresses. Baloon sleves wre a popular style.We suspect that there were also parties in the younger primary years. We are unsure as to what extent their were Christms or other parties a the oher different school levels. We think this may have been most common for the younger children. We also notice First Communion ceremonies, but only at Catholic schools. France has a highly secular public school system. We do not yet have a lot of informations on these varius kinds of celebrations, but we are constantly expanding our archive. Hopefully our Frech reades will provide us some details on their school experinces.

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Created: 11:22 PM 12/31/2012
Last updated: 11:28 PM 2/7/2013