Prince Axel of Bourbon-Parma

Daily life

Daily life and schooling for children

In 1957, primary school children attended classes six days a week, including Saturdays, and many rural students learned in a single classroom with one teacher for all levels. That same year, a reform eliminated homework for primary schools.

Work

Industrial labor dominance in 1962

In 1962, industrial workers were the largest group, making up 39 percent of the total working population.

What people wore

Most women sewed their own clothing

Until the 1960s, many French women were skilled in home sewing and would regularly recreate fashion patterns from magazines to make their own dresses, suits, and coats.

Music

Traditional Regional Dances and Instruments

In the Massif Central, the bourrée remained a traditional dance accompanied by instruments like the cabrette bagpipe, fiddle, or hurdy-gurdy. While some folk dances used complex rhythms, musicians frequently adapted their repertoires to include more modern sounds like the accordion.

At the table

Rise of processed convenience foods

Between 1952 and 1962, the consumption of potato mash and canned soup exploded, with the latter increasing by 182 percent.