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Geneva is one of the most populated cities in Switzerland, and it is home to many French, German, and Italian speaking people. In Geneva, there are several annual festivals that are integral to the local culture, one called Escalade that takes place in December. As December is my favorite time of the year, I wanted to discuss the traditions and history of this holiday. It began as a forceful attempt to reinstate the power of the Catholic religion in the area, as Geneva was overwhelmingly a Protestant area. When the Catholics invaded the city on December 11 and 12, they scaled the walls surrounding it in a surprise attack against the Duke of Savoy. With the help of other Protestant Swiss cities, Geneva fended off the attack. It is now celebrated with people dressing up in medieval costumes with a procession of flute and drum players. People drink hot red wine, which can be found in many cafes lining the streets of the Old Town. All throughout the night, Old Town hosts musical performances, competitions, and theatrical performances on the streets.

Sources
http://www.orangesmile.com/travelguide/geneva/traditions--2552151.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%27Escalade

Photo
https://www.lake-geneva-switzerland.com/events/escalade-events/see-lescalade-festival-and-celebrations-in-geneva-in-mid-december/

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In the media, we often see mimes portrayed as a staple in French culture. Personally, I am a little creeped out by them--all that creepy makeup; it's the same reason I hate clowns! Nonetheless, I am very curious about them, so I wanted to discover where they came from. My source suggests that mimes have originated from Australian aboriginal dances from over 60,000 years ago that mimed the tribe's history; in the event called corroboree, they imitated catching fish and hunting animals, as well imitating the animals themselves. What we know now as mime began in Ancient Greece in the Theatre of Dionysus in Athens. Apparently, when the Romans took control over Greece, they enjoyed the art form so much that they decided to carry it with them to Italy. They developed the comedy and tragedy behind the art, giving it many of the aspects that it is now recognized for. Italian acrobats then took mime artistry to France, where in 1819 Jean Gaspard Batiste developed a specific character, and played a huge role in the popularization of the art form. Much like other forms of comedy, learning how to mime well takes a lot of practice and time put into the craft. Even though mimes often use chance events as the source of their comedy, it is not a spontaneous performance but one that requires much more complexity.

Source and Photo
https://theculturetrip.com/europe/france/articles/fascinating-history-behind-frances-hilarious-art-of-mime/

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I'm currently taking a class called "Social Class in America" for my major. We recently read an article that discussed the differences between poverty in Canada and the United States. Even though the two countries are very similar economically, there are huge differences between the lives of those who are impoverished as a result of government policy. In the United States, those in poverty don't receive much help from the government. Welfare is not common because such a small number of people can actually receive it, and those who are out of a job are pretty much out of luck. Furthermore, once someone gets stuck in the cycle of poverty (which is very easy to do), it is nearly impossible to get yourself out; the United States does not provide much of a safety net for those who need it. They are left on their own to the mercies of uncaring employers and demanding landowners, this is if they are even able to find a job or a home to rent. In Canada, however, those in poverty lead a different life. The government provides those who are unemployed with job training to help them get back on their feet. There is good, free healthcare provided to everyone. Welfare is more easily accessible to those who need it, whether you have a job or not. Overall, Canada provides its citizens with a social safety net, while America's is practically nonexistent.

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_programs_in_Canada#Housing

Graph:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-37159686

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Madagascar is a giant island off the coast of southeast Africa that houses a large number of French speakers as a result of long-ago colonization. It is home to many species of animals that live primarily in the rich rainforests. As I take an interest in biodiversity--the variety of life from genes to species to ecosystems--this is an interesting topic to me. A rainforest is a tropical biome which is characterized by regular rainfall and a high canopy of trees. Rainforests are one of the earth's primary spaces for biodiversity, as the temperature and the amount of rain provide for many species to live and thrive. Madagascar contains many rainforests and rainforest reserves, some of which are open to tourists and the public. Over half of the island's endemic species--species that only exist in Madagascar--live in the rainforest. Because Madagascar is an island, and it is separated physically from other land, it is more likely that evolution will occur here. It is in this way that Madagascar has many endemic species, including animals and plants. However, as a result of deforestation, only about 10% of the land's original forest exists. This is not only present in Madagascar, but it is a global trend :(

Sources
https://traveltips.usatoday.com/rainforest-madagascar-43243.html

Photo
http://www.safarihub.com/package/madagascar-rainforest-wildlife-tsingy-beach/

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Claude Debussy's "Nuit D'étoiles" is one of my favorites pieces I sang with chorus in high school, so I wanted to learn more about his life and music. He is widely regarded as one of the best composers from the late 19th to early 20th century. He was born into a poor family in France in 1862, but he was very talented at the piano and so was able to go to the Paris Conservatory at age 11. There, he received an amazing education and at 22, he went on to enter one of his pieces--l'Enfant prodigue--into the Grand Prix. He took the top prize home, which allowed him to continue his education at an Italian school. In 1895, Debussy's first seminal opera was completed, and it was a very controversial piece as many critics and audience members either hated it or loved it. Ten years later, he released Suite bergamasque, which is a suite with 4 songs. Regarded as one of his best songs, "Clair de lune" is part of this suite. Much of his music consists of only piano, but he does compose some choral music, as well as later in his life incorporating some aspects of a Javanese gamelan--which usually consists of bells, gongs, xylophones, and sometimes vocals.

Sources
https://www.biography.com/people/claude-debussy-9269290

Link to "Nuit D'étoiles"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bCdfejC1O8

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More commonly known as voodoo, this is a religion practiced primarily in Haiti. Vodouists believe in a distant creator called Bondye (derived from the French words for good God, bon Dieu). This Bondye has no control over believer's lives, but instead control belongs to the loua, family spirits inherited through maternal and paternal lineage. Vodouists worship the loua for protecting their children. To do so, they offer elaborate personal altars or devotional objects, as well as participate in ceremonies of song, dance, and spirit possession. The loua are considered either rada (sweet) or petro (bitter) depending on how demanding they are of their children. The loua are capable of taking over children's bodies and entrancing people during rituals and services. Supposedly, when one is entranced, they take on the personality of the loua, and are not conscious during the time. Surprisingly, Roman Catholics have adopted some practices from Vodou and do not have much conflict with their belief systems and practices at all. Some Vodouists even call themselves Roman Catholic, as there is not a huge disparity between the two as they are practiced in Haiti.

Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haitian_Vodou
http://www.travelinghaiti.com/haitian-voodoo/

Photo from Wikipedia Source

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Like the name French fries, I wanted to discover whether French toast is actually French. If not, where did it come from and how did it take on the name? According to my source, French toast originated as early as the 5th century AD in the Roman Empire, before France itself even existed. At the time, it was called aliter dulcia, or another sweet dish. While we now make French toast with eggs, it then consisted of bread dipped in milk and then fried in oil and butter. In fact, the recipe was used as a way to use up stale bread; if it was no longer tasty on its own, the mixture and the frying provided an inventive way to make the bread taste good again. The dish was popular throughout much of Europe, and in France it was called pain perdu, or lost bread. This is because the bread would lose its original form and become completely transformed. Pain perdu is still what the French call the sweet food. It began to be known as French toast when the dish traveled to England in the 17th century, where it had not been popularized before. This nickname also came to America, where we know it today as a beloved breakfast food. So, French toast is not actually French, but rather a larger European dish.

Sources
https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/french-toast-the-history-of-the-creamy-toast-and-its-supposed-french-connection-1784685

Photo
https://www.recipetineats.com/french-toast/

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Mardi Gras is a celebration, particularly important in New Orleans. It originated from medieval Europe, passing through Rome in the 17th and 18th centuries to the French House of the Bourbons. When the French explorer Jean Baptiste le Moyne Sieur de Bienville came to Louisiana in 1699, he landed at a spot south of New Orleans and he named it "Pointe du Mardi Gras" because it was the day before the holiday. The holiday was celebrated there for the first time in 1703. Now, it is celebrated each year with a huge parade. Many people will be seen in costumes colored the traditional colors, gold, green, and purple. Some of the most iconic traditions of Mardi Gras are beads, King cakes, and masks. Beads are often thrown out from people on floats, along with other things such as doubloons and cups. King cakes are traditionally in a ring shape and are baked with a plastic (sometimes porcelain or even gold) baby inside. The person who receives a slice of cake with the baby is considered to have luck. The Mardi Gras masks were historically worn to essentially allow the partygoers a sense of anonymity as they could mingle with all social classes that were there. Now, people wear masks to celebrate!

Sources
http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com

Photo
https://www.123rf.com/photo_44662265_a-group-of-venetian-mardi-gras-mask-or-disguise-on-a-dark-background.html

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Fountain is an interesting work of art that changed the course and perspective of art itself. It is simply a urinal that was signed "R. Mutt," which is something that we now call ready-made art. At the time, however, the piece was not considered art at all (and many people--although not critics--still don't see it as art). Now it is widely seen as one of the most influential pieces of the 20th century. It was made in 1917 by Marcel Duchamp to be submitted in an art showcase funded by a society of independent artists called Parisian Salon de Indépendants. Duchamp did not intend for Fountain to be treated the same as more traditional art; instead, he wanted to test the limits of art. How would people react to a urinal as a work of art? Unsurprisingly, people were not happy with the "ready-made" piece. They decided to remove it from the show shortly after it was displayed as they considered it indecent and inappropriate.  Importantly, Fountain led to a revolutionary change in what is accepted as art. It inspired the entire post-impressionist movement, including artists such as Picasso, Van Gogh, and Matisse.

Sources
https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/duchamp-fountain-t07573
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-Impressionism

Photo
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountain_(Duchamp)

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As discussed in the book, PACS is becoming increasingly more common in France and other countries in the francophone world. But what exactly does it mean to have a PACS, and how did it come to be created? From a legal standpoint, a PACS, or civil solidarity pact--pacté civil de solidarité in French--means that two people enter into an agreement that gives them rights and responsibilities, but less so than marriage. A person who is in a PACS is no longer single in regards to their marital status; it now shows their status as pacsé. PACS was originally drawn up in 1998 to a mostly right-wing French Parliament. Because the law would allow same-sex couples to join in a union (at the time, marriage between same-sex couples was not legal), the Parliament voted against the law. However, it was brought up again in 1999 and was approved, but not without some controversy. Now, many of the people in a PACS are opposite-sex couples. According to a 2012 census, 94% of PACS existed between opposite-sex couples. As of 2013, marriage and adoption rights have been made legal for both same- and opposite-sex couples. However, PACS still remains a more popular option for many.

Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_solidarity_pact

Graph:
https://www.cairn.info/revue-population-et-avenir-2008-2-page-3.htm

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Quebec is a Canadian province. Much of the language and culture in Quebec is French, but there are also Irish influences. I will be exploring the traditional cuisine in Quebec, which is derived mainly from France. One of the most famous Canadian snacks--and most popular in Quebec--is poutine. Poutine consists of French fries covered in cheese curds and gravy. Another popular dish is called a tourtière, or a meat pie. This pie contains some sort of minced meat, whether pork, beef, or veal, and potatoes. Tourtières, along with yule logs, or bûches, are an important part of Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve celebrations. Molasses and maple syrup are more Canadian-produced foods that are integral to Quebec cuisine. Molasses is used in many sweets and desserts such as "tire Ste-Catherine," which are a type of taffy candy. These are meant to celebrate the feast of Saint Catherine of Alexandria. Maple syrup is used in Grand-perés, or maple syrup dumplings, and is poured on traditional dishes that feature eggs, baked beans, ham,  oreilles de crisse (fried pork jowl), and bacon.

Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuisine_of_Quebec

Photo
https://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2015/03/ultimate-perfect-poutine-fries-cheese-curds-gravy-recipe.html

Poutine

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The Eiffel Tower was first constructed in 1889 for the World's Fair, marking the 100 year anniversary of the French Revolution. It was built by Gustave Eiffel's company, the same company that constructed the Statue of Liberty in 1886. When the tower was erected in 1889, it was the tallest structure in the world, beaten out in 1930 by the Chrysler Building in New York City. The monument was originally intended to be a temporary exhibit, but it was decided that it would be permanent after city officials realized that it allowed important radio signals to be heard. This came to be integral part of WW1, as they could intercept enemy radio signals. While it is now one of the most iconic structures in the world, many Parisians despised it at the time; they actually thought of it as an eyesore. However, as previously discussed, the tower was kept anyways. Now, it offers amazing views to visitors who are allowed to go all the way up to the top. It is the most visited paid destination in the world, with approximately 7 million visitors each year.

Sources

https://www.history.com/topics/landmarks/eiffel-tower

Photo
https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/landmarks-monuments/eiffel-tower-facts

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Paul Van Haver, known by his stage name Stromae, is a well-known French-speaking artist from Belgium. His most famous song, "Papaoutai," was one of my first encounters with the French language several years ago, so I decided to explore his life and music. Stromae is a rapper and singer who also dips into the electronic scene. He began making music at a young age and joined a rap group at age 18. However, the group disbanded shortly after, and he went on to release his first solo E.P. in 2007. In 2008, his song titled, "Alors on Dans" was popularized throughout much of Belgium, Germany, France, and several other European countries. This launched his success as an artist. "Papaoutai," which was released in 2013, swept Europe quickly and even became popular in the United States. The song, though intentionally the incorrect French grammar, translates to "Papa, where are you?" It is a comment on his own life growing up without a father. Much of his music is a discussion of his own life experiences, which many of his listeners relate to or understand. In 2015, he performed in New York at Madison Square Garden, showing the universality of his music and the French language, although it is not the primary language here.

Sources
https://www.politico.eu/list/politico-28/stromae/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stromae

Link to "Papaoutai" Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiKj0Z_Xnjc