Lessons in French Life: Courant Affairs

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Lessons in French Life: Courant Affairs

Kristin contemplates a breath of fresh air in her southern French home.

When my husband shuffled into the bedroom at 6:30am, groggy but with a determined look on his face, I knew what was on his mind. “Not now,” I muttered, half asleep. “It’s too early for le courant d’air.” But like a surfer chasing the perfect wave, he was already at the window, eager to catch that morning breeze and reroute it through our rez-de-chaussée, Jean-Marc’s obsession with airing out the house, even at the crack of dawn, is unstoppable. And he’s not alone. In France, everyone is eager to ride that perfect vague de l’air frais. But why? Voyons voir.

The French love affair with le courant d’air isn’t just about feeling the breeze. It’s deeply rooted in the culture, and has benefits ranging from health to the simple joy of a lively home. Years ago, during a family grape harvest in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, I learned of an old saying in Provence: “Quand le Mistral entre par la fenêtre, le médecin sort par la porte.” When the Mistral comes in through the window, the doctor goes out the door. Just as the wind wards off humidity, keeping old vines healthy, a sweep of fresh air is believed to whisk away indoor pollutants that could cause illness in humans. During the Covid-19 pandemic, citizens were drafted, so to speak, when the French government encouraged the population to air out their homes throughout the day to reduce the risk of virus transmission. Speaking of sickness, it’s amusing how the French often blame air-conditioning for their colds, while I grew up being warned about draughts. In the searing heat of the Arizona desert, we never opened windows to air out the house – doing so would let the precious cool air escape. But here in my adopted country, where la climatisation is less common, harnessing the breeze is essential to maintaining comfort chez soi.

I believe the allure of la fenêtre ouverte comes from the way it connects the French to the world beyond their own four walls. Whether it’s greeting neighbours as they pass by or listening to the church bells at noon, a home with an open window feels more vibrant and more immersed in the life of the neighbourhood. Beyond health, comfort and community, an influx of fresh air brings a sense of renewal. It’s a ritual that marks the start of the day, a way to clear out the old and welcome in le nouveau. And if there’s one thing my husband appreciates, it’s keeping things fresh – whether that’s the air in our home or, well, other aspects of our vie à deux… So the next time you see those wide-open windows, remember: it’s healthy, economical, social… and maybe even a little seductive in which case it’s best to shut those windows and curtains!

FRENCH VOCABULARY

LE COURANT D’AIR = cross breeze

LE REZ-DE-CHAUSSÉE = ground floor, first floor

LA VAGUE D’AIR FRAIS = wave of fresh air

VOYONS VOIR = let’s see

QUAND LE MISTRAL ENTRE PAR LA FENÊTRE, LE MÉDECIN SORT PAR LA PORTE = When the Mistral comes in through the window, the doctor goes out the door

LA CLIMATISATION = air-conditioning

CHEZ SOI = home

LA FENÊTRE OUVERTE = the open window

LE NOUVEAU = the new

LA VIE A DEUX = life together

From France Today Magazine

Lead photo credit : © KRISTIN ESPINASSE

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The American-born author and photographer lives with her French husband, Jean-Marc, and their two children on a vineyard and olive farm near Bandol in Provence. She's the author of "Words in a French Life: Lessons in Love and Language from the South of France" and runs the French Word-a-Day blog and newsletter.

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Comments

  • Janet Blanchard
    2025-02-05 05:59:15
    Janet Blanchard
    Love this and want to receive your vocabulary newsletter. Had three years of HS French and although very rusty, I remember a surprising number of words. I hope to travel to France someday. I am a descendant of a young Huguenot who immigrated to Jamestown in 1619 with the Berkeley Hundred settlement. He was a "manager" who was in charge of the stores, survived the 1622 Indian Massacre and owned land in the 1624/25 census. He probably had lived in Bristol, England as most of the people on the ship Margaret did. I am still researching him. Thank you.

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