Day 2274 (Wednesday) 30th August 2023

No nice photos today…

This was Badger and Huw playing in the big box last night.

It was pretty hot and sweaty today and slightly overcast and there was a cruise ship in the bay.

Huw had some work today with Lucas, a south African man who Suzanne introduced to us. He had to prepare some railings in this apartment.

These are the railings

And this is the view.

Why 'la rentrée' means so much more in France than a new school year

As we arrive at la rentrée, here's a look at this French word which, while it's often translated as merely the start of a new school year, in fact has a cultural significance that goes much deeper.

La rentrée simply means the re-entry or the return but its arrival heralds a shift in the winds in France every September, here's why.

If you spent much time in French cities in August you will have noticed that they were pretty empty - many of the smaller independent shops close up and if you email anyone about a work-related or official matter you're likely to get an auto-reply informing you that they are out of the office until September.

And because the long August holiday is such an embedded tradition in French life, the return in September is a big deal.

Here are some of the things that la rentrée means and why it defies an easy translation into English;

Schools restart 

La rentrée scolaire is when schools begin again for the new academic year. There is a tradition that this cannot happen until September, so this year schools go back on Monday, September 4th. 

A side-effect of la rentrée scolaire is the appearance in shops of huge collections of stationery as stressed-out parents head out to buy the dozens of items on the official lists that schools send out, all of which are deemed essential to educational life.

Return to work

Of course key workers continue to work throughout the summer but many offices close completely for some or all of August as it's not at all uncommon to receive out-of-office replies simply telling you that the person will be back in September and will deal with your query then.

Many smaller independent businesses including boulangeries, florists, pharmacies, clothes shops and bars also close for some or all of August as their staff and owners enjoy a break.

If you work in an office, the first few days after la rentrée is often a time for chatting to colleagues, hearing other people's holiday stories and generally easing yourself back into work gently so it's not too much of a shock to the system.

Return to parliament 

The French parliament takes a break over the summer and resumes sessions in September, while ministers too generally take a few weeks off. Traditionally the president goes to the presidential holiday home - a villa in Bregançon on the Riviera and enjoys a few weeks of sun, outdoor activities and rest.

La rentrée politique is not only the time when politicians return to work, it's when governments lay out their plans for the next 11 months. Expect to see a sudden rash of TV and newspaper interviews with ministers laying out their priorities for the new parliamentary term and the legislation that they wish to pass.

As well as a peak time for big-ticket bills, autumn is also the time when MPs begin to debate the Budget for the following year.

New books are published

There is also a phenomenon known as la rentrée litteraire, which is when hundreds of new books are published in the busiest part of the literary year.

This is partly related to people coming back to work, but is also linked to the fact that many of France's major literary prizes - including the Prix Goncourt, the Prix Renaudot, and the Grand Prix du roman de l'Académie française - are held in October and November.

Publishers therefore release books that they believe have a chance at a prize in late August or September in the hope that they will be fresh in the judges' minds.

Summer activities end

As people head back to work and temperatures begin to cool, many of the summer activities and facilities close down too, from small town festivals and open-air cinemas to the Paris plages urban beaches that are dismantled in the last weekend of August.

Traffic chaos

With most of France heading home from its holidays at the same time, the final weekend in August is usually the subject of dire warnings about traffic jams, so if you have the option it's better to avoid being in the car this weekend.

Yet more French idioms…

la fin des haricots – the last straw
Literal Translation: the end of the green beans
More often than not, the French use this idiom sarcastically to mean things really aren't all that bad.

les carottes sont cuites – your goose is cooked
Literal Translation: the carrots are cooked
Food is important to the French and it appears in a lot of idioms. If you are down 4-0 in a football/soccer match with 10 minutes to go, it could well mean Les carottes sont cuites!

mener quelqu’un en bateau – to lead someone up to the garden path
Literal Translation: to take somebody to a boat ride

mettre la charrue avant les boeufs – put the cart before the horse
Literal Translation: to put the cart before the oxen

mettre son grain de sel – to put in two cents
Literal Translation: to put one’s grain of salt