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Spring is a time of regeneration. The leaves are returning, the grass is turning green again, and children are emerging from their homes like butterflies from cocoons. It is little wonder, then, that children in France love to celebrate this time of year with the Fete of the Little Boats.
Throughout all of France, rivers abound. Even if you don’t live on one of the major rivers like the Rhine, Rhone, and Loire, it’s likely that there’s a tributary of some size nearby. It’s little wonder, then, that the rivers play a large part in the celebration of the coming season. On April 6th of every year, children all over France run to their nearest river to take part in the Fete of the Little Boats.
 In a practice as old as anyone can recall and certainly dating back more than 200 years, the Fete of the Little Boats or Fete des Petits Bateaux helps to celebrate the beginning of Spring. As the winter draws to a close, children throughout France make miniature boats from pine wood both for this festival and to enjoy throughout the warm months. On the day of the festival itself, they take one of their tiny boats and a candle to the nearest river, light the candle, set it in the boat, and let the boat float away.
It is said that each boat represents the voyage that we all take through life. As the boat sails down the crisp Spring waters, it’s taking with it that child’s hopes and dreams for the year to come. If a person downriver finds one of these boats, it’s said to bring them good fortune for the rest of the year. This is particularly true if the candle is still lit when they find it.
The simple joy of this is quite lovely and something to which we all can aspire in our own lives. In fact, recreating the Fete of the Little Boats on a body of water near you would be a great way for you and your family to celebrate the coming of Spring. You can make a small box-like boat out of inexpensive balsa wood and some glue, and then set it alight with your own wishes for the coming year.
So as Spring continues to bloom around you, take the time to celebrate the coming year. The trees, the flowers, the warmth, they all serve to remind us of the little joys that this lovely festival helps to commemorate.
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