Spring in Paris means chocolate - lots of it. Artisan shops burst with colour as Easter approaches, one of their busiest times of year. But what are the Easter traditions in France? From chocolate bells, eggs, hens, chicks - even fish - French Easter is full of surprises, including the showstopping Easter Eggs in Paris.
- What are The 4 Traditional Chocolate Shapes for Easter in France?
- Why do the French have Bells at Easter?
- Does the Easter Bunny Exist in France?
- What is Poisson d'Avril?
- Why do the French Eat Chocolate Fish at Easter?
- Mini Chocolate Fish - Fritures
- Parisian Chocolate Easter Eggs
- Why are there so Many Chocolate Chicks and Hens in Paris?
- Annual Limited Edition Easter Eggs in Paris
What are The 4 Traditional Chocolate Shapes for Easter in France?
Traditionally, the four most common chocolate shapes seen in France during this time are: Easter eggs, bells, hens/chicks and fish.
These beautifully crafted sculptures adorn the windows of bakeries, pâtisseries and chocolateries. While the variety of eggs alone is enough to make our mouth water, it's the significance behind the bell-shaped chocolates that makes French Easter celebrations.
Each year, animals feature: bears, cats, dogs, lambs, pandas, pigs, ducks, mice and bees. It's often a circus!
Why do the French have Bells at Easter?
So, who brings the eggs on Easter in France? According to French folklore, the bells (les cloches) bring the chocolate on Easter (cloches de Pâques).
This is why you'll see so many bell-shaped chocolates during this time. As the Church bells stop ringing from Good Friday until Easter Sunday morning to mourn the death of Jesus, they are said to fly all the way to the Vatican in Rome.
Once blessed by the Pope, the bells return to France, joyously pealing as they drop chocolate eggs in gardens along the way.
Even for French children, the idea of bells bringing chocolate can seem a little absurd. Perhaps as parents we simply poorly described it! So imagine trying to explain this to your kids?
So, the church bells flew all the way to the Vatican, were blessed by the Pope to help everyone in mourning, then returned to hide chocolate - with no hands!
French Parents trying to explain the traditions for the Easter Bells
Does the Easter Bunny Exist in France?
While the Easter Bunny is not part of French Easter traditions, bunnies have been hopping into boutiques over the years, adding to the whimsical atmosphere. Hop into Christophe & Julie Roussel in Montmartre, Ladurée for pink bunnies or Pierre Marcolini.
And let's not forget the charming mice, which play a role similar to the tooth fairy in French folklore.
What is Poisson d'Avril?
Have you noticed the abundance of chocolate fish in Parisian chocolate shop windows at the end of March and beginning of April?
This playful tradition is tied to April Fool's Day, known as Poisson d'avril in French (pronounced 'pwa-song dav-reel'), where people may find colourful paper fish taped to their backs as part of playful pranks.
One year I discovered, at the end of the day, I'd been modelling a primary school wall of taped paper fish to my back. Antoine, my husband, was less gullible with only one!
Why do the French Eat Chocolate Fish at Easter?
The fishy story remains rather unclear. Various sources cite the most popular: it dates back to the 16th Century when Charles IX changed the New Year to 1st January.
Until then in France, the New Year started around 1st April. To celebrate the arrival of spring, symbolised by the zodiac sign of Pisces, fresh fish was served, leading to the humorous tradition of pinning fish on unsuspecting individuals.
Mini Chocolate Fish - Fritures
French chocolatiers offer a wide selection of chocolate fish and seafood shapes called fritures, perfect for celebrating Poisson d'avril on April 1st. They garnish the insides of the bigger Easter eggs or are sold in sachets to eat 'comme ça', as is.
If you're in France, ensure you have a stock of them
for 1st April, Poisson d'avril.
Parisian Chocolate Easter Eggs
In Paris, chocolate Easter eggs remain a popular choice, symbolising the Easter Sunday Resurrection and the emergence of new life.
High-end chocolatiers and confectioneries showcase a variety of egg designs, from elegant and artistic to fun and whimsical themes.
Again this year, high-end chocolate boutiques, confiseries (candy shops), pâtisseries to top hotels have created their eggs from simply chic, amusing, to popular characters, or impressive giant artistic sculptures.
Jacques Genin normally goes wonderfully wild with a vivid, brilliant lacquered look for his masterpieces with more fish and hens to choose from.
Now Jade Genin continues her father's chocolate traditions with her own chocolate shop on l'avenue de l'Opéra - just next door to Cédric Grolet. Spot blue-themed Easter eggs, elephant sculptures to simplistic little eggs with flat hens on top.
Looking for low glycemic index chocolate eggs? Well the Éclosion is a perfect choice for diabetics (types 1 & 2) in Paris at Les Belles Envies - see more in my article on Pâtisseries for Diabetics in Paris.
Why are there so Many Chocolate Chicks and Hens in Paris?
During the 40-day Christian tradition of Lent, meat or eggs were not allowed to be eaten. Nevertheless, hens continued to lay their eggs! So by the time Easter arrived signalling the end of Lent, there were so many eggs to be used.
Chocolate versions simply symbolised them, plus the rolling of the eggs. Modern chocolate chicks are in the windows of Alain Ducasse around Paris, plus Patrick Roger always has pretty lifelike chicks (poussins).
Many hens are garnished with miniature eggs and fritures - either plain or with praline. Hens are featured everywhere really.
Love pralines? Head to Pascal Caffet, Meilleur Ouvrier de France, aka the King of praline, using hazelnuts from Piemonte. See much more in my article on his art.
Meanwhile, here's an idea for a chocolate hen. Make this lemon Easter cake (gluten free with almond flour) and have fun decorating it with macarons and mendiants.
Annual Limited Edition Easter Eggs in Paris
Pastry chefs from Paris's luxury Palace hotels release their limited edition chocolate sculptures for Spring (in February). Such creations include spectacular works of art, some animated, but are only available to order for a limited time.
Here are just a few examples this year from the top pastry chefs in Paris:
- Chef Maxime Frederic (Cheval Blanc) has come up with a Notre Dame bell and for 2026 his Belle Epoque inspired balloon;
- After Chef Matthieu Carlin's butterfly Easter Egg last year, his 2026 'egg' is a nod to Place de la Concorde's lamps (Hôtel de Crillon);
- Chef Anne Coruble has an impressive red sunflower (Le Peninsula);
- Jordan Talbot's Easter egg this year is inspired by his favourite regional dessert, the Paris-Brest (La Réserve);
- Naraé Kim's Mimosa Egg his now replaced by her Eclat d'enfance with childhood memories of an egg revealing many inside layers (Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme);
- Chef Timothy Lam's 2026 egg is an imperial beehive (Shangri-La, Paris).
Planning your own Easter trip to Paris?
Browse more Paris foodie walks and local tips on le blog.
This post was originally published 21 March 2016 but is updated annually.
June S
It's a long time since I visited Paris at Easter time but you have made me revisit my memories of the amazing shop windows.
Jill Colonna
Please return over Easter then x
Linda
Have enjoyed this Easter read, Jill. With your mention of Charles IX and the year beginning on 1 January, I proudly mention that the Edict of Roussillon proclaiming this was signed in the northern Rhône valley Château de Roussillon (Isère), the town where I spent my English assistantship year. I remember that the franking in the local post offices used to say "l'année commencera le 1er janvier - Edit de Roussillon". (I may have mentioned this before - I'm obviously quite proud by association!)
Jill Colonna
How fascinating - thank you so much for sharing this, Linda. No wonder you are proud of this association in l'Isère.
Nami | Just One Cookbook
Paris and chocolate, and if I can walk with you, it's a perfect walk, Jill! 🙂 I had so much fun looking at all kinds of chocolates. I'll make sure to have enough suitcase to fit all the chocolate treats when I go there.
Nancy/SpicieFoodie
Aw two of my most favorite things in this world, chocolate and Paris.:) Hehe, love the fish!
Jill
Hehe. Chocolate and Paris together? I could say in French that 'ça donne la peche' (gives you energy, lol)
Ivy
Hope you had a wonderful Easter. Thanks for the tour. Is that huge Easter egg with the macarons edible?
Jill
It certainly is, Ivy, although I'm not sure how the macarons would fare after being in the window for a couple of weeks. Best to just admire, perhaps!
Camille
I love the Easter displays in the chocolateries! Well, I didn't love making them when I was working in one, but I still enjoy looking. And eating. 😉
Jill
Camille, didn't love making them? Glad you have got over it and back to eating them! Cheers.
Tony
choc tours of Paris during Easter period, nothing can beat that 🙂
Jill
Indeed, Tony. Fun to watch, fun to eat and all with some history and facts thrown in!
Thomasina
Thank you for the wonderful Easter tour around Paris. Makes you forget about the cold weather gazing at these displays. I especially love the macaron egg. We are looking forward to our egg hunt on Monday, bunny masks and baskets at the ready. Being the 1st of April dare I say the bunnies forgot?
Jill
Bunny masks, too. Sounds like you were fabulously organised, Thomasina. Our bunnies didn't 'forget' since we had our hunt on Sunday. We wanted them as much as the kids!
Ann Mah
Ahhh, I almost forgot about Poisson d'Avril! I miss French Easter candy desperately, especially the oeufs pralinés from La Mère de la Famille. Eat one for me, d'accord?
Jill
Thanks, Ann - ate so much for you that I've broken out in praline spots! Hope you had fun with Poisson d'Avril yesterday.
Liz
How nice of you to take us on this marvelous sweet Easter tour through Paris. I have a feeling your girls will have something very special in their Easter baskets! I wonder what family member will get a fish on his or her back on Monday? It may have to be the dog...she seems to enjoy my sense of humor best of all 🙂 Hope you have a lovely holiday with your family!!! xo
PS...thanks for the mention!
Jill
Your dog is such a great sport, Liz. Hope he wasn't too confused with fish taped to his fur - ouch!
Parisbreakfast
Love your Context reportI got to go on Friday and it was divine
Ate myself silly with chockies provided
Miam miam
Jill
Glad you managed to get on another Context walk and sorry I missed you. This isn't a Context report - just some pics... 😉
Lora
How wonderful. Thank you for this amazing tour. The macaron egg is 2die4.
Jill
Love that mac-egg, too, Lora.
Gourmantine
Easter is a true chocolate wonderland in Paris, I'd be lying if said I wasn't a bit jealous, everything looks wonderful. Happy Easter to you and your family 🙂
Jill
Have a wonderful Easter, Gourmantine. Jealous? You travel so much, dahlink. Just as well I didn't make the post longer, then? 😉
J-Pierre Durand
With your photos I'm missing Paris so thank you for the walk, Jill. Next time I come, a chocolate walk sounds the perfect afternoon.
Jill
Enjoy your Easter weekend, J-Pierre. Yes, the chocolate walks are fun - sure you would enjoy it!
Liz Small
Your photos are wonderful - thank you! Makes us feel very excited that it is nearly Easter! Not off on Good Friday in Scotland, but we will think of you all there! Best wishes from Glasgow.
Jill
Thanks, Liz. Same here, no holiday tomorrow on Good Friday - we just get Monday holiday then back to the grindstone. All the more reason to stock up on good chocolate and go bananas!
Jamie
Oooooh how I want! I guess I'll have to settled with going around and checking out the chocolate shops in Nantes! You've inspired me to go and take photos! Now, the question is, how much did you buy - and eat?
Jill
I want to see your Nantes photos, Jamie! Ok, truth be told, I bought a ridiculous amount of fritures and of course some rather special eggs. I've finished the small fry already. This chilly weather is making me crave sunshine through chocolate! Never eaten so much in my life. BUT Lucie is now saying she prefers the dark stuff - forget the supermarket or Cadburys. She's got expensive taste, God help us!