Kelsey's Francophone Cultures Portfolio by

The Sun King

kp8155 — 2024-01-26 17:35:46 UTC

King Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, was the King of France from 1642 to 1715. He was known as the Sun King because he chose the sun as his personal emblem (Cheateau De Versailles). The text states, "The sun is the symbol of Apollo, god of peace and the arts; it is also the star which gives life to all things, rising and setting with unfailing regularity," (Cheateau De Versialles 9). Louis became the king at four years old, and was in power through many wars. At the age of nine was the start of the Fronde, the civil war in 1648 due to Parlement trying to overthrow the crown. In 1660, he marries his wife, daughter of King Philip IV of Spain, to end the war between his country and Spain. The famous Palace of Versailles was the built by King Louis XIV in order to represent his power and authority. In 1667, he started a series of wars in the Spanish Netherlands which lasted for the majority of his ruling. King Louis XIV was known to love war being that it was all he knew since he was a child.

Sources:

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Louis-XIV-king-of-France/Patronage-of-the-arts

https://en.chateauversailles.fr/discover/history#the-reign-of-louisxiv1638-1715

B&B Waffles

kp8155 — 2024-02-21 22:23:41 UTC

The Belgium waffle consists of two types: Liège waffle and the Brussels waffle. These breakfast foods known today have been around since the Middle Ages, where they were "originally sold as a street side snack outside churches throughout Belgium following Sunday Mass" (Moose Trackers). The Liège Belgium Waffle is believed to come from the Prince-Bishop of Liège, hence the name. The type of waffle is known to be made with pearl sugar, which created a caramelized flavor when cooked. Waffle originates from the French word, "Gaufres" which means the honeycomb of the bee (Moose Trackers). As for Brussels waffles, this is what we think if when we order Belgium waffles at a breakfast place in the U.S. This type of waffle was created in 1958 in Brussels at a world fair (Chicago Waffles). It was 6 years later when they were introduced to the states by Maurice Vermersch at the 1964 World's Fair in New York City (VBT). As you could have guessed, Brussel waffles are topped with very light add ons such as strawberries and whipped cream.

Sources:

https://moosetrackers.com/followthetracks/2017/3/1/new-desserts-7db2p#:~:text=The%20delicious%20Belgian%20waffles%20that,waffles%20that%20originated%20in%20Belgium.

https://www.vbt.com/blog/sweet-story-belgian-waffle/

https://www.chicagowaffles.com/how-did-belgian-waffles-come-to-be/#:~:text=The%20Belgian%20waffle%20debuted%20in,and%20strawberries%20on%20the%20waffle.

Senegal and it's relationship with the French

kp8155 — 2024-03-26 15:49:14 UTC

Senegal is located in Western Africa, where it is the circled by Africa, Europe, and America. The main language of the country is French, where they gained their independence from France in 1960. Back in the 1600s, Senegal was one of the French colonizations in Africa. It began during the Industrial Revolution, where the country was able to participate in the triangular trade between Europe, Africa, and America. France took these colonizations and rewarded the people of Senegal French citizenship. France continued to expand their power, creating the “I’Afrique-Occidentale française” (Vassoille, 4). Even though they gained Independence from France, both of these countries continue to grow in business together. The text states, “To this day, France remains the first investor and commercial partner of Senegal. French companies are well-established in Senegal and contribute to about 25% of the country’s gross domestic product,” (Vassoille,7). The country is also part of the International Organization of the French-Speaking World, which contributes to their close relationship with France. Although French is the official language of Senegal, only one third of the population speaks it, while the majority speaks Wolof. The relationship between the two countries has created the largest number of immigrants as of 2020. Many Senegalese people migrated to France after World War I. This mixed culture has affected all realms of life in France, from football players to politicians.

Source:

https://blog.lingoda.com/en/french-senegalese/

Mardi Gras

kp8155 — 2024-04-11 20:24:38 UTC

We all know Mardi Gras is a celebration that takes place in New Orleans where everyone comes together and drinks. But what is the origin of the celebration? The term Mardi Gras is actually French for “Fat Tuesday” which resembles the celebration of eating fatty foods in order to prepare for the fasting for Lent. Mardi Gras’ origin was traced back to medieval Europe and was not introduced to the United States until March 3, 1699. The French explorers Pierre Le moyne d’Iberville and Sieur de Bienville landed in New Orleans and celebrated their travels, starting the first Mardi Gras of the U.S. Mardi Gras became a holiday until the Spanish took over the land. The bans of celebration continued until Louisiana became a U.S. state in 1812 (History.com Editors 3). The colorful costumes and culture of Mardi Gras seen today is due to a group of students observing the culture of the holiday in France, and brought it back to the U.S. Mardi Gras is only considered a legal holiday in the state of Louisiana, where many people travel to celebrate and drink on the streets!

Source:

https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/mardi-gras