Visitors returning from France used to complain that Paris would be perfect, were it not for the Parisians. Fortunately, the stereotyped image of the surly, unhelpful Frenchman has faded along with his beret, dangling Gauloise cigarette and bottle of vin ordinaire. Parisians are far more accommodating these days, but they do have their own unwritten social code.
The French wait until May 1 to celebrate spring. You don’t need a calendar to know when this day arrives. Street vendors automatically pop up throughout the city selling small bunches of lilies of the valley. The tradition of offering mini-bouquets to friends as good luck tokens began in the Renaissance court of Charles IX. It’s no surprise that Kate Middleton carried a simple lily of the valley bouquet down Westminster Abbey’s long aisle to take her wedding vows last month.