Cur Non? Le Blog

Items from the “Degas at the Opera” exhibition at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. are available to view online along with over 50,000 items from the museum’s collection.

In 1922, a statue of Joan of Arc was erected at Meridian Hill Park in Washington, D.C. A symbol of friendship between France and the United States, the statue was dedicated following World War I with President Warren G. Harding in attendance along with French Ambassador Jean Jules Jusserand.

No one knows the exact origin of April Fool’s Day, but France has its own claim. Up until the middle of the 16th century, the New Year was celebrated in late March in Europe, ending on April 1. When Charles IX announced that the holiday would move to January 1, some people protested and continued with the spring celebration.

The French Embassy and consulates are mobilizing to relay and encourage mutual aid initiatives during the COVID-19 crisis. Following is a message that was shared today. Apply for assistance here.

On March 31, 1889, the Eiffel Tower was formally dedicated and opened to the public. At first, many French citizens were not so enamored with the new monument and considered it to be an eyesore, but now it stands as one of the most famous symbols of Paris and is the most-visited paid monument in the world.

Marie Woodall’s passion for travel and languages has also inspired a keen interest in the etymology of words and their evolution over time. Always with a dictionary at the ready (usually Le Dictionnaire Larousse), she is passionate about the relationship between language and culture.